# Result number

Work The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets are treated as single work with 154 parts.

Character Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet, the character name is "Poet."

Line Shows where the line falls within the work.

The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not restart for each scene.

Text The line's full text, with keywords highlighted within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.

1

Love's Labour's Lost
[IV, 3]

Ferdinand

1591

By heaven, thy love is black as ebony.

2

Love's Labour's Lost
[IV, 3]

Biron

1592

Is ebony like her? O wood divine!
A wife of such wood were felicity.
O, who can give an oath? where is a book?
That I may swear beauty doth beauty lack,
If that she learn not of her eye to look:
No face is fair that is not full so black.

3

Love's Labour's Lost
[IV, 3]

Ferdinand

1598

O paradox! Black is the badge of hell,
The hue of dungeons and the suit of night;
And beauty's crest becomes the heavens well.

4

Love's Labour's Lost
[IV, 3]

Biron

1601

Devils soonest tempt, resembling spirits of light.
O, if in black my lady's brows be deck'd,
It mourns that painting and usurping hair
Should ravish doters with a false aspect;
And therefore is she born to make black fair.
Her favour turns the fashion of the days,
For native blood is counted painting now;
And therefore red, that would avoid dispraise,
Paints itself black, to imitate her brow.

5

Love's Labour's Lost
[IV, 3]

Dumain

1610

To look like her are chimney-sweepers black.

6

Love's Labour's Lost
[V, 2]

Maria

2776

At the twelvemonth's end
I'll change my black gown for a faithful friend.