Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Peer Reviewed

Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)

VENVS AND ADONIS.

115Touch but my lips with those faire lips of thine,
Though mine be not so faire, yet are they red,
The kisse shalbe thine owne as well as mine,
What seest thou in the ground? hold vp thy head,
Looke in mine ey-bals, there thy beautie lyes,
120 Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?

Art thou asham'd to kisse? then winke againe,
And I will winke, so shall the day seeme night.
Loue keepes his reuels where there are but twaine:
Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight,
125 These blew-veind violets whereon we leane,
Neuer can blab, nor know not what we meane.

The tender spring vpon thy tempting lip,
Shewes thee vnripe; yet maist thou well be tasted,
Make vse of time, let not aduantage slip,
130Beautie within it selfe should not bewasted,
Faire flowers that are not gathred in their prime,
Rot, and consume them selues in litle time.

Were I hard-fauourd, foule, or wrinckled old,
Il-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh invoice,
135Ore-worne, despised, reumatique, and cold,
Thick-sighted, barren, leane, and lacking iuyce;
Thē mightst thou pause, forthē I were not for thee,
But hauing no defects, why doest abhor me?
Thou