O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever…
““O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb! Despised substance of divinest show! Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st, A damned saint, an honourable villain! O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell; When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh? Was ever book containing such vile matter So fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell In such a gorgeous palace!””
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 describes love as a paradoxical blend of beauty and danger, highlighting its capacity to be both divine and destructive.
In simple terms: Love is beautiful yet dangerous, a mix of good and evil.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love’s complexity while staying aware of its risks.
Themes
love
paradox
danger
Mood
passionate
cautious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- poetry
- therapy
- relationship counseling
- creative writing
Key Concepts
romanticism
dualism
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance passion with caution?
- What does “beautiful tyrant” reveal about love?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing love can blind one to warning signs.