Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no further than a wanton’s bird;
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
– William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2. It is almost dawn and time for the young lovers to say their farewells. Juliet tells Romeo that she wants him to go – but not too far. In a metaphor she likens him a pampered person’s pet bird that is kept tied to a silk thread. She uses a simile to compare the bird (Romeo) to a "poor prisoner." The imagery shows Juliet’s desire to keep Romeo close to her so that he doesn’t fly away.