Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶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.
¶Look how he can, she cannot choose but love,
80And by her fair immortal hand she swears
¶From his soft bosom never to remove
¶Till he take truce with her contending tears,
¶_Which long have rained, making her cheeks all wet,
¶_And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.
