Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

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

Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1592-3)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Peer Reviewed
He lookes vpon his loue, and neighes vnto her,
She answers him, as if she knew his minde,
Being proud as females are, to see him woo her,
310She puts on outward strangenesse,seemes vnkinde:
Spurnes at his loue, and scorns the heat he feeles,
Beating his kind imbracements with her heeles.
Then like a melancholy malcontent,
He vailes his taile that like a falling plume,
315Coole shadow to his melting buttocke lent,
He stamps, and bites the poore flies in his fume:
His loue perceiuing how he was inrag'd,
Grew kinder, and his furie was asswag'd.
His testie maister goeth about to take him,
320VVhen lo the vnbackt breeder full of feare,
Iealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,
VVith her the Horse, and left Adonis there:
As they were mad vnto the wood they hie them,
Outstripping crowes, that striue to ouerfly them.
325All swolne with chafing, downe Adonis sits,
Banning his boystrous, and vnruly beast;
And now the happie season once more fits
That louesicke loue, by pleading may be blest:
For louers say, the heart hath treble wrong,
330VVhen it is bard the aydance of the tongue.
An Ouen that is stopt, or riuer stayd,
Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage:
So of concealed sorow may be sayd,
Free vent of words loues fier doth asswage,
335But when the hearts atturney once is mute,
The client breakes, as desperat in his sute.