“ He is the half part of a blessed man, left to be finished by such as she; and she a fair divided excellence, whose fulness of perfection lies in him. ”
William Shakespeare, King John (1623). copy citation
| Author | William Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Source | King John |
| Topic | marriage matching |
| Date | 1623 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Written around 1596 |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1110/pg1110.txt |
Context
“Such as she is, in beauty, virtue, birth, Is the young Dauphin every way complete- If not complete of, say he is not she; And she again wants nothing, to name want, If want it be not that she is not he. He is the half part of a blessed man, Left to be finished by such as she; And she a fair divided excellence, Whose fulness of perfection lies in him. O, two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in; And two such shores to two such streams made one, Two such controlling bounds, shall you be, Kings, To these two princes, if you marry them.”
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Meaning and analysis
