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"Nay, had she been true,
If heaven would make me such another world
Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,
I'd not have sold her for it."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Othello, in Othello, act 5, sc. 2, l. 143-6.
Speaking of the now dead Desdemona; "chrysolite" means topaz. |
"One sin, I know, another doth provoke.
Murder's as near to lust as flame to smoke."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Pericles, in Pericles, act 1, sc. 1, l. 137-8.
Fearing for his life now he has revealed the incest of the King and his daughter. |
"He is well paid that is well satisfied."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Portia, in The Merchant of Venice, act 4, sc. 1, l. 415.
Disguised as Balthasar the lawyer, she refuses the money offered to her as a fee by her husband Bassanio. |
"Retire me to my Milan, where
Every third thought shall be my grave."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Prospero, in The Tempest, act 5, sc. 1, l. 311-2.
On returning to resume his role as Duke of Milan, and contemplating his death. |
"A milksop, one that never in his life
Felt so much cold as over shoes in snow."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Richard, in Richard III, act 5, sc. 3, l. 325-6.
Trying to raise the spirits of his troops by abusing Richmond. |
"From the east to western Inde,
No jewel is like Rosalind."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Rosalind, in As You Like It, act 3, sc. 2, l. 88-9.
Reading one of Orlando's love poems, with its poor rhyme (Inde means the Indies). |
"Now the devil that told me I did well
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Sir Pierce of Exton, in Richard II, act 5, sc. 5, l. 115-6.
He has just killed Richard II in prison. |
"Such tricks hath strong imagination
That, if it would but apprehend some joy,
It comprehends some bringer of that joy;
Or in the night, imagining some fear,
How easy is a bush supposed a bear?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Theseus, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, act 5, sc. 1, l. 21-2.
The last line is proverbial (bear may means "bugbear" or hobgoblin). |
"Is it possible
That love should of a sudden take such hold?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Tranio, in The Taming of the Shrew, act 1, sc. 1, l. 146-7.
His master, Lucentio, has fallen in love at first sight of Bianca. |
"1st Witch. When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
2nd Witch. When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won.
3rd Witch. That will be ere set of sun.
1st Witch. Where the place?
2nd Witch. Upon the heath.
3rd Witch. There to meet with Macbeth."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Witches, in Macbeth, act 1, sc. 1, l. 1-7.
"Hurly-burly" means tumult of war. |
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William Shakespeare
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