* Death and Transcendence: This is the most common interpretation. It suggests the person or thing being described is so beautiful that they belong in a higher, more perfect place, like heaven or the afterlife. It hints at their early death, suggesting they are too good for this world. Think of a character who is innocent, pure, and exceptionally beautiful – their demise becomes almost inevitable.
* Inability to Possess/Keep: It could mean that the beauty is unattainable or will be lost. It's a treasure that cannot be held onto. Perhaps the object is too fragile, too valuable, or too ethereal to be truly owned or enjoyed for long. This could foreshadow a loss through theft, destruction, or simply the passage of time and the decay of beauty.
* Separation or Distance: The beauty may be something that exists but is forever out of reach, perhaps because of social class, circumstance, or even a metaphorical distance. It suggests a longing for something that can never be truly possessed or integrated into the everyday world.
* Inappropriateness or Destructive Power: The beauty might be so extreme that it's disruptive or even destructive to earthly life. It could represent a kind of perfection that highlights the flaws and imperfections of the world, leading to discontent or chaos.
In summary, the phrase "beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear" foreshadows themes of death, loss, unattainability, and the destructive potential of extreme beauty, implying that the subject is destined for a fate beyond the mundane and earthly.