Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶"I have been wooed, as I entreat thee now,
¶Even by the stern and direful god of war,
¶Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow,
100Who conquers where he comes in every jar.
¶_Yet hath he been my captive and my slave,
¶_And begged for that which thou unasked shalt have.
¶"Over my altars hath he hung his lance,
¶His battered shield, his uncontrollèd crest,
105And for my sake hath learned to sport and dance,
¶To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest,
¶_Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red,
¶_Making my arms his field, his tent my bed.
¶"Thus he that overruled, I overswayed,
110Leading him prisoner in a red rose chain.
¶Strong-tempered steel his stronger strength obeyed,
¶Yet was he servile to my coy disdain.
¶_O, be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,
¶_For mastering her that foiled the god of fight.
