The Canonization Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #4

We die and rise the same, and prove
Mysterious by this love. (26-27)

"You just wouldn't understand, man." This is the upshot of what the speaker's saying here. Sure, we understand that every relationship is unique. By saying this, though, the speaker seems to be making the claim that his relationship with his lover is uniquely special and beyond everyone else's understanding. Maybe that's why these two end up looking down at the rest of us from heaven.

Quote #5

We can die by it, if not live by love, (29)

Well, that escalated quickly. Fantasizing about death, though, allows the speaker to move into a realm where he posits himself and his lover as saints. It's traditionally hard to be canonized, after all, if you're still kicking around above ground.

Quote #6

"You, to whom love was peace, that now is rage;
[…]
Countries, towns, courts beg from above
A pattern of your love." (39-45)

To "beg […] a pattern" means to ask for guidance. Here, the mortals of Earth are looking up (praying, really) to the lover-saints for help in how to love properly. We've already seen that this perfect couple now looks down at the rest of us with rage, presumably since we're not loving in the best way possible. Should we feel bad about that? Or resentful? Or is this maybe an invitation for us to consider how we all might improve our romantic relationships?