I love the question posed by Adrian in his comment on my post the other day: How much does the beauty of a sentence depend on its meaning, and how much is purely a function of rhythm and cadence?
Suppose, for example, we retained only the rhythm and rhyme of some of Shakespeare’s most famous lines, but changed the words. Would they still be beautiful?
He rests on Mars, but never felt marooned.
Could that be Jagger I see performing?
The weighty moth is best to touch.
Ensnare your brides in starch!
How cool is Portal III?
I’m assuming you can deduce the corresponding originals, all taken from the Bard’s plays. Perhaps you can also contribute a few examples of your own. 🙂