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"My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne"
Metaphor
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 1-5

An explanation of the “bosom’s lord” metaphor in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

[A street in Mantua. Enter Romeo]

Romeo

If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.
My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne,
And all this day an unaccustomed spirit
Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts.

​Romeo’s “bosom’s lord” is a metaphor for the heart. This line has two interpretations:

  • Romeo’s heart sits lightly in his body; he's feeling light-hearted.
  • Love, the heart’s ruler, sits lightly in Romeo's heart because of his joyful dreams.