Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Venus and Adonis (Modern)
  • Editor: Hardy M. Cook
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-411-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardy M. Cook
    Peer Reviewed

    Venus and Adonis (Modern)

    Her song was tedious and outwore the night,
    For lovers' hours are long, though seeming short.
    If pleased themselves, others they think, delight
    In such like circumstance with such like sport.
    845 Their copious stories, oftentimes begun,
    End without audience and are never done.
    For who hath she to spend the night withal
    But idle sounds resembling parasites,
    Like shrill-tongued tapsters answering every call,
    850Soothing the humor of fantastic wits?
    She says, "'Tis so"; they answer all, "'Tis so,"
    And would say after her, if she said "No."
    Lo, here the gentle lark, weary of rest,
    From his moist cabinet mounts up on high
    855And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast
    The sun ariseth in his majesty,
    Who doth the world so gloriously behold,
    That cedar tops and hills seem burnished gold.
    Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow,
    860"O, thou clear god and patron of all light,
    From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow
    The beauteous influence that makes him bright,
    There lives a sun that sucked an earthly mother
    May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other."
    865This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove,
    Musing the morning is so much o'erworn,
    And yet she hears no tidings of her love.
    She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn;
    Anon she hears them chant it lustily,
    870 And all in haste she coasteth to the cry.