Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶By this, she hears the hounds are at a bay,
¶Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder
¶Wreathed up in fatal folds just in his way,
880The fear where of doth make him shake and shudder;
¶_Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds
¶_Appalls her senses, and her spirit confounds.
¶For now she knows it is no gentle chase,
¶But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud,
885Because the cry remaineth in one place,
¶Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud,
¶_Finding their enemy to be so curst,
¶_They all strain court'sy who shall cope him first.
¶This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear,
890Through which it enters to surprise her heart,
¶Who, overcome by doubt and bloodless fear,
¶With cold-pale weakness, numbs each feeling part.
¶_Like soldiers, when their captain once doth yield,
¶_They basely fly and dare not stay the field.
