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)

    Alas, he naught esteem's that face of thine,
    To which loues eyes paies tributarie gazes,
    Nor thy soft handes, sweet lips, and christall eine,
    Whose full perfection all the world amazes,
    635 But hauing thee at vantage (wondrous dread!)
    Wold roote these beauties, as he root's the mead.
    Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still,
    Beautie hath nanght to do with such foule fiends,
    Come not within his danger by thy will,
    640They that thriue well, take counsell of their friends,
    When thou didst name the boare, not to dissēble,
    I feard thy fortune, aud my ioynts did tremble.
    Didst thou not marke my face, was it not white?
    Sawest thou not signes of feare lurke in mine eye?
    645Grew I not faint, and fell I not downe right?
    Within my bosome whereon thou doest lye,
    My boding heart, pants, beats, and takes no rest,
    But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my brest.
    For where loue raignes, disturbing iealousie,
    650Doth call him selfe affections centinell,
    Giues false alarmes, suggesteth mutinie,
    And in a peacefull houre doth crie, kill, kill,
    Distempring gentle loue in his desire,
    As aire, and water do abate the fire.
    655This sower informer, this bate-breeding spie,
    This canker that eates vp loues tender spring,
    This carry-tale, dissentious iealousie,
    That somtime true newes, somtime false doth bring,
    Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine eare,
    660 That if I loue thee, I thy death should feare.