"verbal foreplay"?

World-class romantic

date: Go see the play

Romeo and Juliet.

And it wouldn't hurt

to rent one of the many

film versions of Romeo

and Juliet.

Sonnet 29 When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least: Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Use these words to accompany a jewelry gift: Win her with gifts, if she respects not words, Dumb jewels often in their silent kind More than quick words do move a woman's mind.

-Two Gentlemen of Verona Grace on my lips; and if these hills be dry, Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.

-Venus and Adonis

WORDS OF LOVE/POETIC.

481a Indeed this very love which is my boast, And which, when rising up from breast to brow, Doth crown me with a ruby large enow To draw men's eyes and prove the inner cost,- This love even, all my worth, to the uttermost, I should not love withal, unless that thou Hadst set me an example, shown me how, When first thine earnest eyes with mine were crossed And love called love. And thus, I cannot speak Of love even, as a good thing of my own: Thy soul hath snatched up mine all faint and weak, And placed it by thee on a golden throne,- And that I love (soul, we must be meek!) Is by thee only, whom I love alone.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning 481b O, lift me from the grass!

I die, I faint, I fail!

Let thy love in kisses rain On my lips and eyelids pale.

My cheek is cold and white, alas!

My heart beats loud and fast: Oh! press it close to thine again, Where it will break at last!

-Lord Byron, last stanza of "The Indian Serenade"

481c Memorize her favorite poem, or the lyrics to her favorite love song. Recite it at private times, or while making love.

To see how the power of eloquent words can affect the course of romance, see the movie Roxanne, starring Steve Martin.

A great marriage is a love poem with two authors.

"And think not you can guide the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course."

-Kahlil Gibran

WORDS OF LOVE/YOUR WORDS.

482 Write your own words of love. Here are some ideas to get you started: List "Ten Reasons I Fell in Love With You."

List "Ten Reasons I Still Love You."

List "Ten Ways You Turn Me On."

List "Ten Reasons You Should Stick With Me."

List "Ten Reasons You Should Marry Me."

483 Keep a journal. Every day or so, write down your thoughts about your partner, about your relationship, about your lives together. Some days you'll just jot a quick "I love you"-other days you may be inspired to write page after page. Do this for an entire year. Then present it to her on your anniversary or her birthday.

484 Write your own version of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous poem "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..."

485 Place an ad in the Personals column of your local newspaper. Let your lover know why he or she is so special. Write it in "code," possibly using your private pet name for her. This is a great opportunity to exercise your creativity and express your feelings in just a few clever words.

When the ad appears, circle it and leave it on the kitchen table when you leave for work.

Or call him at work on the day the ad appears, and tell him there's a secret message for him on a certain page of the morning newspaper.

You can use these ideas for scrolls or cards or frame-able items for many romantic occasions.

WORDS OF LOVE/THE ANCIENTS.

486.

"To be able to say how much you love is to love but little."

-Petrarch "One word frees us all of the weight and pain of life. That word is Love."

-Sophocles "Take away leisure and Cupid's bow is broken."

-Ovid "The anger of lovers renews the strength of love."

-Pubilius Syrus "Love conquers all things; let us to surrender to love."

-Virgil "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."

-Marcus Antonius "The madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings."

-Plato "Because of a great love, one is courageous."

-Lao Tzu "The more a man knows, the more he forgives."

-Confucius "Love is a grave mental disease."

-Plato "Love is a grave

mental disease."

-Plato "Union gives strength."

-Aesop "When male and female combine, all things achieve harmony."

-Tao Te Ching "From their eyelids as they glanced dripped love."

-Hesiod "Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other."

-Euripides "My love for you is mixed throughout my body."

-Ancient Egyptian Love Song

MEMORIZE THIS LIST.

Chapter Theme Song:.

"My Favorite Thing," Silverchair 487.

1. Favorite color 2. Lucky number 3. Favorite flower 4. Favorite author 5. Favorite book (fiction) 6. Favorite book (nonfiction) 7. Favorite fairy tale 8. Favorite children's book 9. Favorite Bible passage 10. Favorite saying 11. Favorite proverb 12. Favorite poem 13. Favorite poet 14. Favorite song 15. Favorite singer 16. Favorite musical band 17. Favorite kind of music 18. Favorite dance tune 19. Favorite romantic song 20. Favorite slow dance tune 21. Favorite rock 'n ' roll song 22. Favorite ballad 23. Favorite country song 24. Favorite Gospel song 25. Favorite jazz number 26. Favorite R&B tune 27. Favorite songwriter 28. Favorite magazine 29. Favorite meal 30. Favorite food 31. Favorite vegetable 32. Favorite fruit 33. Favorite cookie 34. Favorite ice cream 35. Favorite kind of chocolate 36. Favorite snack food 37. Favorite restaurant (expensive) 38. Favorite restaurant (frugal) 39. Favorite fast food joint 40. Favorite TV show (current) 41. Favorite TV show (old) 42. Favorite comedian 43. Favorite actor (living) 44. Favorite actor (of any era) 45. Favorite actress (living) 46. Favorite actress (of any era) 47. Favorite movie of all time 48. Favorite adventure movie 49. Favorite erotic movie 50. Favorite romantic comedy 51. Favorite comedy film 52. Favorite action movie 53. Favorite Broadway play 54. Favorite musical 55. Favorite show tune 56. Favorite breed of dog 57. Favorite breed of cat 58. Favorite animal 59. Favorite comic strip 60. Favorite comic character 61. Favorite TV cartoon 62. Favorite TV cartoon character 63. Favorite artist 64. Favorite style of artwork 65. Favorite painting 66. Favorite sculpture 67. Favorite hero/heroine 68. Role model (actual person) 69. Role model (fictional) 70. Favorite athlete 71. Favorite sport (to watch) 72. Favorite sport (to play) You should know these things about your lover!

Exploring these topics will help you get to know your partner's likes and dislikes a little bit better. Discussing these things will bring you closer together. And knowing these things will also help you express your love more effectively and buy more appropriate gifts.