Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶"Art thou ashamed to kiss? Then wink again,
¶And I will wink; so shall the day seem night.
¶Love keeps his revels where there are but twain.
¶Be bold to play; our sport is not in sight.
125_These blue-veined violets whereon we lean
¶_Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.
¶"The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
¶Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be tasted.
¶Make use of time; let not advantage slip.
130Beauty within itself should not be wasted.
¶_Fair flowers that are not gathered in their prime
¶_Rot and consume themselves in little time.
¶"Were I hard-favored, foul, or wrinkled old,
¶Ill-nurtured, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice,
135O'er-worn, despisèd, rheumatic, and cold,
¶Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice,
¶_Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee;
¶_But having no defects, why dost abhor me?
