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)

    VENVS AND ADONIS.

    What recketh he his riders angrie sturre,
    His flattering holla, or his stand, I say,
    285What cares he now, for curbe, or pricking spurre,
    For rich caparisons, or trappings gay:
    He sees his loue, and nothing else he sees,
    For nothing else with his proud sight agrees.

    Looke when a Painter would surpasse the life,
    290In limming out a well proportioned steed,
    His Art with Natures workmanship at strife,
    As if the dead the liuing should exceed:
    So did this Horse excell a common one,
    In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone.

    295Round hooft, short ioynted, fetlocks shag, and long,
    Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostrill wide,
    High crest, short eares, straight legs, & passing strōg,
    Thin mane, thicke taile, broad buttock, tender hide:
    Looke what a Horse should haue, he did not lack,
    300 Saue a proud rider on so proud a back.

    Sometime he scuds farre off, aud there hestares,
    Anon he starts, at sturring of a feather:
    To bid the wind a base he now prepares,
    And where he runne, or flie, they know not whether:
    305 For through his mane, & taile, the high wind sings,
    Fanning the haires, who waue like feathred wings.
    C iij