Look on beauty,And you shall see 'tis purchased by the weight;Which therein works a miracle in nature,Making them lightest that wear most of it:So are those crisped snaky golden locksWhich make such wanton gambols with the wind,Upon supposed fairness, often knownTo be the dowry of a second head,The skull that bred them in the sepulchre.Thus ornament is but the guiled shoreTo a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarfVeiling an Indian beauty; in a word,The seeming truth which cunning times put onTo entrap the wisest.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the deceptive nature of beauty. It suggests that beauty is often acquired by adding weight or adornment on a surface level, creating an illusion of lightness and attractiveness. The reference to golden locks represents an artificial appearance that masks the underlying reality, comparing it to a second head originating from a grave. The quote asserts that ornamentation serves as a deceitful facade, concealing the hidden dangers beneath. Ultimately, it warns against trusting appearances and highlights how beauty can be used as a manipulative tool by cunning individuals and societies.

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