"That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the King's, / Or like obedient subjects follow him / To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night."
— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Work Title
Date
1597
Metaphor
"That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the King's, / Or like obedient subjects follow him / To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night."
Metaphor in Context
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep?
To chide my fortune, and torment myself?
I'll join with black despair against my soul,
And to myself become an enemy.
DUCHESS OF YORK
What means this scene of rude impatience?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
To mark an act of tragic violence.
Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?
If you will live, lament; if die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the King's,
Or like obedient subjects follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.
(II.ii.34-46)
Ah, who shall hinder me to wail and weep?
To chide my fortune, and torment myself?
I'll join with black despair against my soul,
And to myself become an enemy.
DUCHESS OF YORK
What means this scene of rude impatience?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
To mark an act of tragic violence.
Edward, my lord, thy son, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches when the root is gone?
Why wither not the leaves that want their sap?
If you will live, lament; if die, be brief,
That our swift-wingèd souls may catch the King's,
Or like obedient subjects follow him
To his new kingdom of ne'er-changing night.
(II.ii.34-46)
Categories
Provenance
HDIS
Citation
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works. Oxford Shakespeare. Electronic Edition for the IBM PC. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, Editor.
Date of Entry
08/07/2003
