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Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1592-3)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Peer Reviewed
And therefore would he put his bonnet on,
Vnder whose brim the gaudie sunne would peepe,
The wind would blow it off, and being gon,
1090Play with his locks, then would Adonis weepe.
And straight in pittie of his tender yeares,
They both would striue who first should drie his
To see his face the Lion walkt along,
Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him:
1095To recreate himself when he hath song,
The Tygre would be tame, and gently heare him.
If he had spoke, the wolfe would leaue his praie,
And neuer fright the sillie lambe that daie.
VVhen he beheld his shadow in the brooke,
1100The fishes spread on it their golden gils,
VVhen he was by the birds such pleasure tooke,
That some would sing, some other in their bils
VVould bring him mulberries & ripe-red cherries,
He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.
1105But this foule, grim, and vrchin-snowted Boare,
VVhose downeward eye still looketh for a graue:
Ne're saw the beautious liuerie that he wore,
VVitnesse the intertainment that he gaue.
If he did see his face, why then I know,
1110He thought to kisse him, and hath kild him so.
Tis true, tis true, thus was Adonis slaine,
He ran vpon the Boare with his sharpe speare,
VVho did not whet his teeth at him againe,
But by a kisse thought to persuade him there.
1115And nousling in his flanke the louing swine,
Sheath'd vnaware the tuske in his soft groine.