The Winter's Tale Group

Question:

prince2008
prince2008
Student
Graduate School

What does this sentence from "The Winter's Tale mean:

"I think there is not half a kiss to choose who loves another best."

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Posted by prince2008 on Monday September 29, 2008 at 11:12 AM and tagged with meaning, quote, the winter's tale.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    That oddly phrased sentence comes from Act IV, scene 4 of Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale." It is only part of a sentence. In context, it reads as follows:

    He says he loves my daughter:
    I think so too; for never gaz'd the moon
    Upon the water as he'll stand, and read,
    As 'twere, my daughter's eyes: and, to be plain,
    I think there is not half a kiss to choose
    Who loves another best.

     

    The shepherd is talking, saying that the young man claims he loves the shepherd's daughter, and, judging by how he stares at her, he does. However, she stares back just as hard, so there's no difference in how crazy each is about the other.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/winters-tale-text/act-iv-scene-4
    http://www.enotes.com/winters-tale/summary

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    Posted by gbeatty on Tuesday September 30, 2008 at 6:18 PM