Tomorrow night when Phoebe doth behold
Her silver visage in the wat’ry glass,
Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass
(A time that lovers’ flights doth still conceal),
Through Athens’ gates have we devised to steal.
– William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, Scene 1. Lysander reveals his elopement plans with Hermia to Helena. He tells of their intention to steal away at night to his aunt’s house outside of Athens. Painting a romantic picture of them escaping from the city by moonlight, he imagines the goddess Phoebe looking down at her reflection in the water and decorating the grass with "liquid pearl" (dew drops). Her "silver visage" will both light and conceal the departure of Lysander and Hermia. This description is an extended metaphor for the moon, as seen through lovers’ eyes.