All the world’s a stage, / And all the men and women merely players;
Jaques speaks these lines in the Forest of Arden, just before he lays out the seven ages of man, from the infant “mewling and puking” to old age “sans everything”. Comparing life to a stage was already a commonplace in Shakespeare’s day.
Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once.
Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt that the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love.
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings / That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me –
Break, break, break, / On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! / And I would that my tongue could utter / The thoughts that arise in me.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, / Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;