Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1592-3)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Peer Reviewed
VENVS AND ADONIS.

355Oh what a war of lookes was then betweene them,
Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing,
His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seene them,
Her eyes wooed still, his eyes disdaind the wooing:
And all this dumbe play had his acts made plain,
360VVith tears which Chorus-like her eyes did rain.

Full gently now she takes him by the hand,
A lillie prisond in a gaile of snow,
Or Iuorie in an allablaster band,
So white a friend, ingirts so white a fo:
365This beautious combat wilfull, and vnwilling,
Showed like two siluer doues that sit a billing.

Once more the engin of her thoughts began,
O fairest mouer on this mortall round,
VVould thou wert as I am, and I a man,
370My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound,
For one sweet looke thy helpe I would assure thee,
Thogh nothing but my bodies bane wold cure thee

Giue me my hand (saith he,) why dost thou feele it?
Giue me my heart (saith she,) and thou shalt haue it.
375O giue it me lest thy hard heart do steele it,
And being steeld, soft sighes can neuer graue it.
Then loues deepe grones, I neuer shall regard,
Because Adonis heart hath made mine hard.
For