Being your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours…
““Being your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend, Nor services to do, till you require. Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you, Nor think the bitterness of absence sour When you have bid your servant once adieu; Nor dare I question with my jealous thought Where you may be, or your affairs suppose, But, like a sad slave, stay and think of nought Save, where you are how happy you make those. So true a fool is love that in your will, Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A servant expresses total devotion, willing to abandon personal time and question, to serve the beloved’s desires without complaint.
In simple terms: Complete devotion to another’s wishes.
Key Takeaway
Serve selflessly, trust love.
Themes
devotion
service
love
trust
Mood
longing
reverent
melancholic
Type
literary
romantic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- master‑servant dynamics
- personal sacrifice
- emotional dependence
Key Concepts
self‑sacrifice
unconditional loyalty
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to give all of yourself to another?
- How can love remain healthy without boundaries?
A Different Perspective
May lead to loss of self‑identity and unhealthy dependence.