Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the Devil's foot, Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker lists impossible tasks to show that finding a faithful woman is equally impossible.
- In plain terms
- Finding a true faithful person is as hard as doing magical feats.
- What can you take from it?
- True loyalty is extremely rare to find.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is perfect loyalty possible?
- How do you verify truth?
Another view
It generalizes all women based on perceived infidelity.
More from John Donne
Though Truth and Falsehood be Near twins, yet Truth a little elder is.
Permalink to quote #4 And swear No where Lives a woman true and fair. If thou find'st one, let me know, Such a pilgrimage were sweet; Yet do not, I would not go, Though at next door…
Permalink to quote #6 My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears, And true plain hearts do in the faces rest, Where can we find two better hemispheres Without sharp North, without …
Permalink to quote #3
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