what does this mean. the city now doth like a garment wear

Here's the poem that includes that line.

"Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802


by William Wordsworth

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!"
- http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15877#sthash.QQZw0nf7.dpuf

What do you think?

garment

"The city now doth like a garment wear" is a metaphorical expression describing the appearance or condition of a city. It means that the city is dressed or enveloped in a certain way, much like a person wearing a garment. This phrase often implies that the city possesses a particular quality or characteristic that is visible and noticeable.

The phrase "the city now doth like a garment wear" is a line from a Shakespearean sonnet. Specifically, it is from Sonnet 27, written by William Shakespeare.

To understand the meaning of this line, it is helpful to look at the surrounding context of the sonnet. Sonnet 27 is generally interpreted as a reflection on loneliness and the power of imagination. In the previous lines, the poet describes his experience of being separated from a loved one and feeling the weight of that absence.

When the line says "the city now doth like a garment wear," it is using a metaphor to convey the poet's state of mind. The city is personified, and the metaphor suggests that the city is wrapped around the poet like clothing. This metaphor conveys a sense of comfort and familiarity, as if the city is providing solace for the poet's loneliness. Additionally, it implies that the city itself is transformed by the poet's perspective, taking on a protective and supportive role.

In Shakespearean language, "doth" is a form of the word "does," and "wear" means to have or take on a particular appearance or quality. So, the line can be understood to mean that currently, the city seems to embrace the poet, offering him some relief from his isolation.

Understanding the meaning of poetic language, like this line from Shakespeare, involves analyzing the context, considering metaphors or other literary devices, and interpreting the words based on their usage in that specific era of literature.