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The Quote in the Coffee
Mr. Prince was a dark shape at the breakfast table, hunching over the plate Elaine had set before him as if he suspected she might snatch it back at any moment. "I see the cats have introduced themselves. The striped one is named Merlin and the black one is Nimue."
Elaine smiled and looked at the two furry faces regarding her solemnly from the door that led to the kitchen.
"Le Morte D'Arthur?"
Severus took a deep drink of his coffee. "Love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty heat, soon it cooleth."
Black, #9.
The quote is from Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur, Chapter XXV. For your pleasure I include the entire section:
"But nowadays men can not love seven night but they must have all their desires: that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty heat, soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot soon cold: this is no stability. But the old love was not so; men and women could love together seven years, and no licours lusts were between them, and then was love, truth, and faithfulness: and lo, in like wise was used love in King Arthur's days. Wherefore I liken love nowadays unto summer and winter; for like as the one is hot and the other cold, so fareth love nowadays; therefore all ye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like as did Queen Guenever, for whom I make here a little mention, that while she lived she was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end."