Books
Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure; Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
— William Congreve • The Old Bachelor
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Pleasure is quickly followed by sorrow, the lines warn, and those who wed hastily may spend a long time regretting it. The rhyme gives the caution a tidy, proverb-like ring: impulsive commitment risks lasting remorse once excitement fades.
Context reviewed