What does this quote mean "True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's..."?

Question

What does this mean and give an example?

"True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; kings it makes god's and meaner creature's kings"

-King Richard III

THANK YOU <3

Answer 1

It means that hope is a really fantastic thing, and that it can make you &#039;greater&#039; than you are.

Back in Shakespeare&#039;s day, people believed kings to be only a step below God. They also had a Great Chain of Being where they ranked every animal. (You might know all this, if so, sorry.).

So what it&#039;s saying is that it makes kings go one rank up and &#039;meaner creatures&#039;- meaner meaning lesser not nastier- improve as well.

Paraphrased, it means &#039;if you have hope, it can rise you above your lot in life&#039;.

Hope this helps.