Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis (Modern)
- Texts of this edition
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992Adonis lives, and death is not to blame.
993It was not she that called him all to naught.
994Now she adds honors to his hateful name;
995 She clepes him king of graves and grave for kings,
996 Imperious supreme of all mortal things.
998Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear
999When as I met the boar, that bloody beast,
1000Which knows no pity but is still severe.
1001 Then, gentle shadow, truth I must confess,
1002 I railed on thee, fearing my love's decease.
1004Be wreaked on him, invisible commander.
1005'Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong.
1006I did but act; he's author of thy slander.
1007 Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet
1008 Could rule them both without ten women's wit."
1010Her rash suspect she doth extenuate;
1011And that his beauty may the better thrive,
1012With death she humbly doth insinuate;
1013 Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs, and stories
1014 His victories, his triumphs, and his glories.
1016To be of such a weak and silly mind
1017To wail his death who lives and must not die
1018Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind.
1019 For he being dead, with him is beauty slain;
1020 And beauty dead, black chaos comes again.