I prithee send me back my heart, Since I cannot have…
““I prithee send me back my heart, Since I cannot have thine; For if from yours you will not part, Why, then, shouldst thou have mine? Yet now I think on't, let it lie, To find it were in vain; For thou hast a thief in either eye Would steal it back again. Why should two hearts in one breast lie, And yet not lodge together? O Love! where is thy sympathy, If thus our breasts thou sever? But love is such a mystery, I cannot find it out; For when I think I'm best resolved, I then am in most doubt. Then farewell care, and farewell woe; I will no longer pine; For I'll believe I have her heart, As much as she hath mine.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker laments unreciprocated love, questioning why two hearts cannot be united and expressing confusion and doubt about love's nature.
In simple terms: A lover feels confused and doubtful about unreturned love.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and seek clarity.
Themes
love
confusion
doubt
longing
Mood
melancholy
contemplative
Type
poetic
romantic
When to use this quote
- courtship
- breakup
- self‑reflection
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
reciprocity
identity
emotional conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does love mean to you?
- How do you handle unreciprocated affection?
A Different Perspective
Love may be one; feelings can change.