You claim so cleverly that you did not kiss the rival; now be quiet, for we too have a tongue in our mouth and can speak.
This couplet is steeped in sharp wit and playful sarcasm, capturing the moment a lover calls out the beloved's blatant lie. The beloved claims innocence, denying having kissed the rival, but the poet cuts through the deceit by warning that his silence is a choice, not ignorance. By declaring that he too has a tongue, he hints that if pushed, he possesses the words to expose the entire truth and shatter the beloved's pretense.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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