Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis (Modern)
- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
32Under her other was the tender boy,
33Who blushed and pouted in a dull disdain,
34With leaden appetite, unapt to toy;
35 She red and hot as coals of glowing fire,
36 He red for shame, but frosty in desire.
38Nimbly she fastens. (O, how quick is love!)
39The steed is stallèd up, and even now
40To tie the rider she begins to prove.
41 Backward she pushed him, as she would be thrust,
42 And governed him in strength, though not in lust.
44Each leaning on their elbows and their hips.
45Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown
46And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips,
47 And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken,
48 "If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open."
50Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks.
51Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs
52To fan and blow them dry again she seeks.
53 He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;
54 What follows more, she murders with a kiss.
56Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone,
57Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,
58Till either gorge be stuffed or prey be gone,
59 Even so she kissed his brow, his cheek, his chin,
60 And where she ends, she doth anew begin.