Question

Which line in this song from act II, scene III, of Twelfth Night illustrates that the song is about unrequited love? CLOWN: SONG Come away, come away, death. And in sad cypress let me be laid; Fly away, fly away, breath; I am slain by a fair cruel maid. My shroud of white, stuck all with yew, O, prepare it! My part of death no one so true Did share it. Not a flower, not a flower sweet, On my black coffin let there be strown: Not a friend, not a friend greet My poor corpse where my bones shall be thrown: A thousand thousand sighs to save, Lay me, O, where Sad true lover never find my grave, To weep there!

Answer 1

The line that illustrates this is a song of unrequited love is, "I am slain by a fair cruel maid." The rejection has made the man feel as though he has been killed. Later on, the theme is reinforced with the line, "Lay me, O, where sad true lover never find my grave, to weep there!" The speaker has been hurt by the unrequited love and tells the audience the true love will regret it when he's dead.