Venus and Adonis (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
¶An oven that is stopped, or river stayed,
¶Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage.
¶So of concealèd sorrow may be said
¶Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage;
335_But when the heart's attorney once is mute,
¶_The client breaks, as desperate in his suit.
¶He sees her coming and begins to glow,
¶Even as a dying coal revives with wind,
¶And with his bonnet hides his angry brow,
340Looks on the dull earth with disturbèd mind,
¶_Taking no notice that she is so nigh,
¶_For all askance he holds her in his eye.
¶O, what a sight it was wistly to view,
¶How she came stealing to the wayward boy.
345To note the fighting conflict of her hue,
¶How white and red, each other did destroy;
¶_But now her cheek was pale, and by and by
¶_It flashed forth fire, as lightning from the sky.
