O Mistress mine, where are you roaming? O, stay and hear…
“O Mistress mine, where are you roaming? O, stay and hear; your true love's coming, That can sing both high and low: Trip no further, pretty sweeting; Journeys end in lovers meeting, Every wise man's son doth know. What is love? 'Tis not hereafter; Present mirth hath present laughter; What's to come is still unsure: In delay there lies not plenty; Then, come kiss me, sweet and twenty, Youth's a stuff will not endure.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Love is fleeting, uncertain, and full of paradoxes, urging us to cherish present joy despite life's impermanence.
In simple terms: Love is fleeting and uncertain.
Key Takeaway
Savor love now.
Themes
love
transience
joy
uncertainty
philosophy
Mood
romantic
thoughtful
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Courtship
- Wedding vows
- Friendship
- Personal introspection
Key Concepts
Temporal impermanence
Romantic idealism
Existential reflection
Human desire
Poetic paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance hope and doubt in love?
- What does “present mirth” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Love’s intensity can lead to heartbreak; not all love endures.