The Book of Jade · Chapter
Constancy explained
The speaker addresses a deceased beloved, noting her pale lips and cold breasts, yet vows not to abandon her holy bed.
What happens
The speaker addresses a deceased beloved, noting her pale lips and cold breasts, yet vows not to abandon her holy bed. He acknowledges that death will bring decay—dust, worms, and profanation—but insists that death brings no disgrace, and cries to the stars that she is most fair.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Decay
The poem dwells on the beloved's corpse, dust, worms, and the profanation of beauty by decay.
Ennui and Existential Dread
The speaker's confrontation with the stillness and finality of death evokes a sense of existential weariness.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Surely thy face, love, is a little pale, And somewhat wan thy lips that were so red”
Your face is pale, love, and your lips have lost their redness.
The speaker observes the physical signs of death in the beloved.
“Thou art gone down to Death, thou art gone down, And the dead things shall nestle in thy hair, And the dust shall profane thy golden crown, And the worms shall consume thy perfect face”
You have descended into death, where dead creatures will settle in your hair, dust will defile your crown, and worms will eat your face.
The speaker vividly describes the decomposition awaiting the beloved.
“Even so: but Death shall bring thee no disgrace, And to the stars I cry, Thou art most fair!”
Nevertheless, death will not dishonor you, and I proclaim to the stars that you are most beautiful.
The speaker affirms the beloved's beauty despite decay.