The Symposium
And when one of them meets with his other half, the actual half of himself, the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy, and one will not be out of the other's sight, as I may say, even for a moment: these are the people who pass their whole lives together; yet they could not explain what they desire of one another.
…
And the reason is that human nature was originally one and we were a whole, and the desire and pursuit of the whole is called love.
Where it fits in the ceremony
In most ceremonies the readings follow the officiant’s welcome, before the vows; a second reading can come between the vows and the exchange of rings. In a civil ceremony, some registrars ask to see readings in advance to confirm they contain no religious content — this one will pass.
Pair it with
Two readings that balance this one, one sacred and one secular:
- Jeremiah 31:31–34 — A new covenant, written on the heart.
- Proverbs 31:10–12, 25–31 — “Her price is far above rubies” — the Bible’s portrait of a capable, respected wife.