Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love. That inward beauty and invisible;Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move each part in me that were but sensible: Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, yet should I be in love by touching thee.'Say, that the sense of feeling were bereft me, and that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, and nothing but the very smell were left me, yet would my love to thee be still as much; for from the stillitory of thy face excelling comes breath perfum'd that breedeth love by smelling.
In this quote from William Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis," the speaker contemplates the nature of love through the senses. They suggest that even without sight or hearing, love would still flourish through touch. The idea emphasizes that true beauty transcends physical appearances and is felt deeply, reinforcing that love is not solely reliant on visual or auditory perception but can be experienced through other means.
The speaker further explores the essence of love by postulating that even if only the sense of smell remained, they would still feel the same deep affection. This highlights the potent influence of a loved one's presence, suggesting that the very essence of beauty and attraction can captivate the heart and evoke love, even in the absence of traditional sensory experiences. The central theme reflects the enduring power of love beyond physical limitations.
