Original artwork, not a still
A Summary of Lord Lyttelton's Advice
Be plain in dress, and sober in your diet; In short, my deary, kiss me, and be quiet.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The couplet offers mock-practical advice: dress simply, eat and drink soberly, and, to sum it up, kiss me and stay quiet. It shifts from a list of sensible restraints to a teasing, affectionate demand for silence, letting the speaker's real wish land as the punchline.
Context reviewed
