Venus and Adonis (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare

Editor: Hardy M. Cook

Peer Reviewed

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Venus and Adonis (Modern)
- Work
- Stanza
  1. Dedication
  2. 2 — 6
  3. 7 — 11
  4. 12 — 16
  5. 17 — 21
  6. 22 — 26
  7. 27 — 31
  8. 32 — 36
  9. 37 — 41
  10. 42 — 46
  11. 47 — 51
  12. 52 — 56
  13. 57 — 61
  14. 62 — 66
  15. 67 — 71
  16. 72 — 76
  17. 77 — 81
  18. 82 — 86
  19. 87 — 91
  20. 92 — 96
  21. 97 — 101
  22. 102 — 106
  23. 107 — 111
  24. 112 — 116
  25. 117 — 121
  26. 122 — 126
  27. 127 — 131
  28. 132 — 136
  29. 137 — 141
  30. 142 — 146
  31. 147 — 151
  32. 152 — 156
  33. 157 — 161
  34. 162 — 166
  35. 167 — 171
  36. 172 — 176
  37. 177 — 181
  38. 182 — 186
  39. 187 — 191
  40. 192 — 196
  41. 197 — 199
Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1592-3)
- Work
- Stanza
  1. Title Page
  2. Dedication
  3. 2 — 6
  4. 7 — 11
  5. 12 — 16
  6. 17 — 21
  7. 22 — 26
  8. 27 — 31
  9. 32 — 36
  10. 37 — 41
  11. 42 — 46
  12. 47 — 51
  13. 52 — 56
  14. 57 — 61
  15. 62 — 66
  16. 67 — 71
  17. 72 — 76
  18. 77 — 81
  19. 82 — 86
  20. 87 — 91
  21. 92 — 96
  22. 97 — 101
  23. 102 — 106
  24. 107 — 111
  25. 112 — 116
  26. 117 — 121
  27. 122 — 126
  28. 127 — 131
  29. 132 — 136
  30. 137 — 141
  31. 142 — 146
  32. 147 — 151
  33. 152 — 156
  34. 157 — 161
  35. 162 — 166
  36. 167 — 171
  37. 172 — 176
  38. 177 — 181
  39. 182 — 186
  40. 187 — 191
  41. 192 — 196
  42. 197 — 199
- Page
  1. 2
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 6
  5. 7
  6. 8
  7. 9
  8. 10
  9. 11
  10. 12
  11. 13
  12. 14
  13. 15
  14. 16
  15. 17
  16. 18
  17. 19
  18. 20
  19. 21
  20. 22
  21. 23
  22. 24
  23. 25
  24. 26
  25. 27
  26. 28
  27. 29
  28. 30
  29. 31
  30. 32
  31. 33
  32. 34
  33. 35
  34. 36
  35. 37
  36. 38
  37. 39
  38. 40
  39. 41
  40. 42
  41. 43
  42. 44
  43. 45
  44. 46
  45. 47
  46. 48
  47. 49
  48. 50
  49. 51
  50. 52
  51. 53
  52. 54
  53. 55

¶The studded bridle on a ragged bough
¶Nimbly she fastens. (O, how quick is love!)
¶The steed is stallèd up, and even now
40To tie the rider she begins to prove.
¶_Backward she pushed him, as she would be thrust,
¶_And governed him in strength, though not in lust.

¶So soon was she along as he was down,
¶Each leaning on their elbows and their hips.
45Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown
¶And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips,
¶_And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken,
¶_"If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open."

¶He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears
50Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks.
¶Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs
¶To fan and blow them dry again she seeks.
¶_He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;
¶_What follows more, she murders with a kiss.

55Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,
¶Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone,
¶Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,
¶Till either gorge be stuffed or prey be gone,
¶_Even so she kissed his brow, his cheek, his chin,
60_And where she ends, she doth anew begin.

¶Forced to content, but never to obey,
¶Panting he lies and breatheth in her face.
¶She feedeth on the steam as on a prey
¶And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace,
65_Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers,
¶_So they were dewed with such distilling showers.

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Venus and Adonis (Modern)