How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
Shall worms, inheritors of this excess,
Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end? (7-8)
Ugh. He just had to go there, didn't he? Let's go ahead and answer these rhetorical questions, even though everyone knows the answers. Yes. Our bodies are going to die and when they're buried in the ground, worms are going to munch on them. Where's the speaker going with all this? Keep reading…
Quote #5
Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross; (11)
Oh, we get it. Even though our bodies are going to die, the speaker believes his soul can live forever in heaven if he works on his inner spiritual life. "Terms" means a set period of time and "divine" is another word for God so, "terms divine" seems to mean for all of eternity.
Quote #6
So shalt thou feed on death, that feeds on men, (13)
We can't literally feed on death, right Shmoopers? So what does this mean? Well, the speaker seems to be saying that if he has a rich spiritual life and makes it to heaven, then he can defeat death. Basically, he's trying to turn the tables on old death here, which is usually the thing that destroys men.