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.

    And being opend, threw vnwilling light,
    Vpon the wide wound, that the boare had trencht
    In his soft flanke, whose wonted lillie white
    With purple tears that his wound wept, had drēcht.
    1055 No floure was nigh, no grasse, hearb, leaf, or weed,
    But stole his blood, and seemd with him to bleed.

    This solemne sympathie, poore Venus noteth,
    Ouer one shoulder doth she hang her head,
    Dumblie she passions, frantikely she doteth,
    1060She thinkes he could not die, he is not dead,
    Her voice is stopt, her ioynts forget to bow,
    Her eyes are mad, that they haue wept till now.

    Vpon his hurt she lookes so stedfastly,
    That her sight dazling, makes the wound seem three,
    1065And then she reprehends her mangling eye,
    That makes more gashes, where no breach shuld be:
    His face seems twain, ech seuerall lim is doubled,
    For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled

    My tongue cannot expresse my griefe for one,
    1070And yet (quoth she) behold two Adons dead,
    My sighes are blowne away, my salt teares gone,
    Mine eyes are turn'd to fire, my heart to lead,
    Heauie hearts lead melt at mine eyes red fire,
    So shall I die by drops of hot desire.
    G iij