Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶Forced to content, but never to obey,
¶Panting he lies and breatheth in her face.
¶She feedeth on the steam as on a prey
¶And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace,
65_Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers,
¶_So they were dewed with such distilling showers.
¶Look how a bird lies tangled in a net,
¶So fastened in her arms Adonis lies.
¶Pure shame and awed resistance made him fret,
70Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes.
¶_Rain added to a river that is rank
¶_Perforce will force it overflow the bank.
¶Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,
¶For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale.
75Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets,
¶'Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale.
¶_Being red, she loves him best, and being white,
¶_Her best is bettered with a more delight.
