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"The April's in her eyes, it is love's spring,
And these the showers to bring it on."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Antony, in Antony and Cleopatra, act 3, sc. 2, l. 43-4.
On Octavia weeping as she parts from her brother, Octavius Caesar. |
"Lawn as white as driven snow,
Cyprus black as e'er was crow,
Gloves as sweet as damask roses,
Masks for faces and for noses."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Autolycus, in The Winter's Tale, act 4, sc. 4, l. 218-21.
Singing his catalog of wares, linen ("lawn"), crepe (imported from Cyprus), and masks used by women to protect their faces. |
"Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again?"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Benedick, in Much Ado About Nothing, act 1, sc. 1, l. 199-200.
Dismayed that his friend Claudio intends to marry. |
"O that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Brutus, in Julius Caesar, act 5, sc. 1, l. 122-3.
Before the battle of Philippi. |
"In dreaming,
The clouds methought would open, and show riches
Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked,
I cried to dream again."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Caliban, in The Tempest, act 3, sc. 2, l. 140-3. |
"The oath of a lover is no stronger than the word of a
tapster; they are both the confirmer of false reckonings."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Celia, in As You Like It, act 3, sc. 4, l. 30-2.
A lover's promises are no more to be trusted than an innkeeper's reckonings. |
"Realms and islands were
As plates dropped from his pocket."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Cleopatra, in Antony and Cleopatra, act 5, sc. 2, l. 91-2.
Cleopatra's dream of Antony; "plates" means coins, of silver or gold. |
"The good I stand on is my truth and honesty."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Cranmer, in Henry VIII, act 5, sc. 1, l. 122.
He is about to face a hostile council. |
"We came into the world like brother and brother;
And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Dromio of Ephesus, in The Comedy of Errors, act 5, sc. 1, l. 425-6.
To his twin Dromio of Syracuse, at the end of the play. |
"GOOD FREND FOR JESVS SAKE
FORBEARE
TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED
HEARE
BLESE BE YE MAN YT
SPARES THES STONES
AND CURST BE HE YT
MOVES MY BONES"
William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Epitaph on Shakespeare's tomb at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Critics have disputed whether Shakespeare wrote his own epitaph, or merely chose it. |
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William Shakespeare
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