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.

    She lookes vpon his lips, and they are pale,
    She takes him by the hand, and that is cold,
    1125She whispers in his eares a heauie tale,
    As if they heard the wofull words she told:
    She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes,
    Where lo, two lamps burnt out in darknesse lies.

    Two glasses where her selfe, her selfe beheld
    1130A thousand times, and now no more reflect,
    Their vertue lost, wherein they late exceld,
    And euerie beautie robd of his effect;
    Wonder of time (quoth she) this is myspight,
    That thou being dead, the day shuld yet belight.

    1135Since thou art dead, lo here I prophecie,
    Sorrow on loue hereafter shall attend:
    It shall be wayted on with iealousie,
    Find sweet beginning, but vnsauorie end.
    Nere setled equally, but high or lo,
    1140 That all loues pleasure shall not match his wo.

    It shall be fickle, false, and full of fraud,
    Bud, and be blasted, in a breathing while,
    The bottome poyson, and the top ore-strawd
    With sweets, that shall the truest sight beguile,
    1145 The strongest bodie shall it make most weake,
    Strike the wise dūbe, & teach the foole to speake.
    It