When by thy scorn, O murd'ress, I am dead.
-- Speaker (Line 1)

Importance: This quotation is the first line of the poem. The speaker refers to the lady as "murd'ress" in order to emphasize how her rejections have pained him. Here, the speaker suggests that in not returning the speaker's affection, the lady will eventually kill him. The rest of the poem explores a future in which the lady must grapple with the consequences of this sin.

Then thy sick taper will begin to wink.
-- Speaker (Line 6)

Importance: As the speaker explains how he will come to haunt the lady, he notes that when he comes to her bedside the taper, or candle, will start to flicker. Not only does this assertion help craft a haunting image of the future, it also uses the symbol of the candle to suggest that the lady's life will also begin to wane. As such, the speaker implies that his appearance...