Original artwork, not a still
When two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most delusive, most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will remain in that excited, and exhausting condition continuously until death do them part.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker portrays romantic love as an intense, irrational and fleeting passion, then points to the absurdity of marriage vows. Couples must swear to maintain that feverish state until death. It is a sharp, satirical complaint that a promise of permanence asks a brief frenzy to last forever.
Context reviewed
