Chapter XV · Chapter 15

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

anew

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

have

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

show off

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

a person who is in charge

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

beautiful and charismatic queen of Egypt; mistress of Julius Caesar and later of Mark Antony; killed herself to avoid capture by Octavian (69-30 BC)

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

an old word for “before”

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

opinion or judgment

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

past form of “flatter” — praise somewhat dishonestly

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

provided with a frame

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

past form of “hinder” — be a hindrance or obstacle to

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

cause to move by striking

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

occurring by chance

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

inflected form of “mislead” — lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading _Vent._ No more.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

not any; not one

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Ant._ But Cleopatra-- Go on; for I can bear it now.

and nothing more

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

a gaudy outward display

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

a perceptual structure

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

any competition

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

a reason for wanting something done

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

an earnest and sincere feeling

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading _Ant._ Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st; Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

a hole for the escape of gas or air

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

precisely as stated

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

migratory

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

at the time that

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

which person or people

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When heaven would work for ostentation sake, To copy out again.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _Vent._ No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it; But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature; So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried,--A lucky hit Has mended our design.