Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis (Modern)
- Texts of this edition
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362A lily prisoned in a jail of snow,
363Or ivory in an alabaster band;
364So white a friend engirds so white a foe.
365 This beauteous combat, willful and unwilling,
366 Showed like two silver doves that sit a-billing.
368"O fairest mover on this mortal round,
369Would thou wert as I am, and I a man,
370My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound.
371 For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee,
372 Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee."
374"Give me my heart," saith she, "and thou shalt have it.
375O, give it me, lest thy hard heart do steel it,
376And, being steeled, soft sighs can never grave it.
377 Then love's deep groans I never shall regard
378 Because Adonis' heart hath made mine hard."
380My day's delight is past, my horse is gone,
381And 'tis your fault I am bereft him so.
382I pray you hence, and leave me here alone;
383 For all my mind, my thought, my busy care
384 Is how to get my palfrey from the mare."
386Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire.
387Affection is a coal that must be cooled,
388Else suffered it will set the heart on fire.
389 The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none;
390 Therefore, no marvel though thy horse be gone.