John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
697 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 697 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here we will sit and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: There ’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins. Such harmony is in immortal souls; But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | The Merchant of Venice. Act. v. Sc. 1. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |