“Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms” by Thomas Moore
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art.
Let thy loveliness fade as it will.
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear;
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sun-flower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose.
Use the poem to answer the question.
In the context of the poem, the word close in line 14 is best understood as
A.
almost.
B.
resolution.
C.
shutting.
D.
death.
E.
nearby.
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D. death.
In the context of the poem, the word "close" in line 14 is best understood as "death." The poem is expressing the idea that true love continues even until the end, just like the sunflower's unwavering gaze towards the sun even when it sets. Therefore, "close" refers to the end or the final moments of life.
To understand the meaning of the word "close" in line 14 of the poem, we need to consider the context. In the poem, the speaker is expressing their unwavering love and devotion to someone, regardless of any changes that may occur to their beauty or youth. The speaker states that the heart that has truly loved never forgets and continues to love until the close.
Based on this context, the word "close" in line 14 is best understood as "death." The speaker is suggesting that their love will endure until the end, until the person's life comes to a close. This interpretation aligns with the theme of lasting, eternal love expressed throughout the poem. Therefore, option D, "death," is the most appropriate answer.