Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought;
¶Adonis lives, and death is not to blame.
¶It was not she that called him all to naught.
¶Now she adds honors to his hateful name;
995_She clepes him king of graves and grave for kings,
¶_Imperious supreme of all mortal things.
¶"No, no," quoth she, "sweet death, I did but jest.
¶Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear
¶When as I met the boar, that bloody beast,
1000Which knows no pity but is still severe.
¶_Then, gentle shadow, truth I must confess,
¶_I railed on thee, fearing my love's decease.
¶"'Tis not my fault; the boar provoked my tongue.
¶Be wreaked on him, invisible commander.
1005'Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong.
¶I did but act; he's author of thy slander.
¶_Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet
¶_Could rule them both without ten women's wit."
