Let me set my mournful ditty To a merry measure; Thou wilt never come for pity, Thou wilt come for pleasure; Pity then will cut away Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker asks the subject to set a sad song to a happy tune, noting the subject will not come out of pity but for pleasure.
- In plain terms
- I will make my sad song happy because you only come for fun, not for pity.
- What can you take from it?
- Pleasure can soften cruelty and make one stay.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does pleasure validate presence more than pity?
- Can sadness be transformed into joy through art?
Another view
It assumes pleasure is the only valid reason for connection.
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