No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, which they will climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage.

Summary

This quote describes the rapid progression of a couple's love story. They instantly feel a strong connection upon meeting, quickly fall in love, and their love is accompanied by longing and yearning. They immediately begin questioning why they feel this way, seeking to understand their emotions. Once they figure out the reason for their love, they start looking for ways to act on it, ultimately leading towards marriage. The quote implies that this couple will either swiftly ascend the steps towards marriage or be unable to resist their desires before formalizing their union.

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