Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶"And, more than so, presenteth to mine eye
¶The picture of an angry chafing boar,
¶Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie
¶An image like thyself, all stained with gore,
665_Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed
¶_Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head.
¶"What should I do, seeing thee so indeed,
¶That tremble at th' imagination?
¶The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed,
670And fear doth teach it divination.
¶_I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow,
¶_If thou encounter with the boar tomorrow.
¶"But if thou needs wilt hunt, be ruled by me;
¶Uncouple at the timorous flying hare,
675Or at the fox which lives by subtlety,
¶Or at the roe which no encounter dare.
¶_Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downs,
¶_And on thy well-breathed horse keep with thy hounds.
