Internet Shakespeare Editions

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

Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)

VENVS AND ADONIS.

Venus salutes him with this faire good morrow,
860Oh thou cleare god, and patron of all light,
From whom ech lamp, and shining star doth borrow,
The beautious influence that makes him bright,
There liues a sonne that suckt an earthly mother,
May lend thee light, as thou doest lend to other.

865This sayd, she hasteth to a mirtle groue,
Musing the morning is so much ore-worne,
And yet she heares no tidings of her loue;
She harkens for his hounds, and for his horne,
Anon she heares them chaunt it lustily,
870 And all in hast she coasteth to the cry.

And as she runnes, the bushes in the way,
Some catch her by the necke, some kisse her face,
Some twin'd about her thigh to make her stay,
She wildly breaketh from their strict imbrace,
875 Like a milch Doe, whose swelling dugs do ake,
Hasting to feed her fawne, hid in some brake,

By this she heares the hounds are at a bay,
Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder,
Wreath'd vp in fatall folds iust in his way,
880The feare where of doth make him shake, & shudder,
Euen so the timerous yelping of the hounds,
Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds.
F iij