When in the chronicle of wasted time / I see descriptions of the fairest wights
-- Speaker (Lines 1 – 2)

Importance: This quote is significant because it begins the poem, but also because it is quite difficult to parse. The "chronicle" might be a document of any kind, such as a book, but the relationship between it and the speaker is uncertain, and the use of the phrase "wasted time" is quite complex (1). Already, this first line has served to unmoor its readers from a clear sense of time, creating the poem's thematic sense of temporal confusion.

Beauty making beautiful old rhyme
-- Speaker (Line 3)

Importance: This quotation is notable for its use of language. The repetition of "beauty"/"beautiful" creates a pleasant assonance, which is a good example of how Shakespeare uses the language of his poems to imitate and underline the meaning (3). The meaning here is also important, though, as it removes the power of authorship from writers. Instead...