Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)
  • 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 (Quarto 1, 1593)

    VENVS AND ADONIS.

    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,
    320When lo the vnbackt breeder full of feare,
    Iealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,
    With 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,
    330 When it is bard the aydance of the tongue.
    An