Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Venus and Adonis
Venus and Adonis (Modern)
- Texts of this edition
- Facsimiles
452Which to his speech did honey passage yield,
453Like a red morn that ever yet betokened
454Wrack to the sea-man, tempest to the field,
455 Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds,
456 Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.
458Even as the wind is hushed before it raineth,
459Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh,
460Or as the berry breaks before it staineth,
461 Or like the deadly bullet of a gun,
462 His meaning struck her ere his words begun.
464For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth.
465A smile recures the wounding of a frown,
466But blessèd bankrupt that by love so thriveth.
467 The silly boy, believing she is dead,
468 Claps her pale cheek till clapping makes it red.
470For sharply he did think to reprehend her,
471Which cunning love did wittily prevent.
472Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her;
473 For on the grass she lies as she were slain,
474 Till his breath breatheth life in her again.
476He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard;
477He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks
478To mend the hurt that his unkindness marred.
479 He kisses her, and she, by her good will,
480 Will never rise, so he will kiss her still.