Meaning & Analysis
A courtship that is concluded quickly is considered the most fortunate and successful one.
Insights
Value of Decisive Action
Beyond romance, the proverb champions decisiveness and swift execution in any important endeavor. It suggests that prompt action, driven by clarity and commitment, is more likely to lead to a successful outcome than hesitation or delay.
Avoiding Complications
A prolonged process, whether in love or business, can invite complications, second thoughts, or external interference. The proverb implies that speed and efficiency are effective strategies for avoiding potential obstacles that arise over time.
Authenticity and Mutual Desire
In the context of relationships, a swift courtship is seen as evidence of strong, authentic, and mutual feelings. It implies an immediate connection that requires no lengthy persuasion, suggesting that genuine compatibility is self-evident and acts quickly.
Pragmatism in Courtship
In a historical context where marriage often involved practical alliances and economic arrangements, a prolonged courtship introduced risks such as rival suitors, shifting family fortunes, or a change of heart. The proverb thus champions swiftness as a means to secure a favorable match before circumstances could change.
Psychology of Uncertainty
The proverb touches on the psychological discomfort of ambiguity and suspense in romantic pursuits. A swift conclusion to a courtship provides emotional clarity and security, avoiding the anxiety and potential for disappointment that a drawn-out, uncertain process can create.
Cultural Values
This saying can be seen as a counter-narrative to the romantic ideal of a long, arduous courtship filled with trials and tribulations. It suggests a cultural preference for straightforwardness and mutual, enthusiastic consent over dramatic, prolonged romantic pursuits.
Rhetorical Devices
Rhyme
The internal rhyme between 'wooing' and 'doing' creates a memorable, catchy, and musically pleasing phrase, which is a key factor in the proverb's endurance and popular appeal.
Parallelism
The proverb uses a balanced, parallel structure that neatly contrasts the subject ('wooing') with the duration of the action ('not long a doing'), reinforcing the core message with syntactical clarity.
Maxim
The saying functions as a maxim, offering a concise and prescriptive piece of wisdom about conduct in courtship and, by extension, other life pursuits.
Transcription
Quotations
(Thrise happie is that woyng, That)
I like the wooing, that's not long a doing.
Thrice happie, men do say, is that sweet wooing, Where loue may still bee noted Swift in doing.
(Blest)
(Blessed)
(that woynge that)
Often hath my nurse spoken proverbially unto me, saying, happy is that wooing which is not long a doing.
(in doing)
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.