Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶"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?
¶"Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow.
140Mine eyes are gray and bright and quick in turning.
¶My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow.
¶My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning.
¶_My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt,
¶_Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt.
