How we cite our quotes: line
Quote #1
"Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away; (4-5)
This little gem of advice has two important points: your heart is worth a lot. Mostly only to you, though. Everyone else will waste it (except maybe your mother). So, turn out your pockets in the street. That'd be a better idea than it would be to share your heart with anyone (except your mother, of course).
Quote #2
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free." (5-6)
So now it's not just love on the table…it's "fancy." That's a fancy word for liking someone – or even just thinking that someone is pretty hot. Know the phrase "a passing fancy"? It's meant to suggest that fancy isn't really lasting.
Quote #3
"The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain; (11-12)
Notice how the heart becomes something that you lose once you give it away? It's not something to share. A little possessive? Well, yes. Yes it is. Oh, and it's also a big downer.
Quote #4
The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain;
'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue (11-14)
And you thought that line 12 was enough of a downer? Oh, no. Friends, there is all sorts of suffering yet to come. Sighs! Rue! Notice how the quantities of each of these commodities are a bit fuzzy? How do you put a price tag on "plenty" of something? Or "endless" things? Pretty tricky, huh? We thought so, too.