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)

    Forst to content, but neuer to obey,
    Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face.
    She feedeth on the steame, as on a pray,
    And calls it heauenly moisture, aire of grace,
    65 Wishing her cheeks were gardens ful offlowers,
    So they were dew'd with such distilling showers.
    Looke how a bird lyes tangled in a net,
    So fastned in her armes Adonis lyes,
    Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret,
    70Which bred more beautie in his angrie eyes:
    Raine added to a riuer that is ranke,
    Perforce will force it ouerflow the banke.
    Still she intreats, and prettily intreats,
    For to a prettie eare she tunes her tale.
    75Still is he sullein, still he lowres and frets,
    Twixt crimson shame, and anger ashie pale,
    Being red she loues him best, and being white,
    Her best is betterd with a more delight.
    Looke how he can, she cannot chuse but loue,
    80And by her faire immortall hand she sweares,
    From his soft bosome neuer to remoue,
    Till he take truce with her contending teares,
    Which lōg haue raind, making her cheeks al wet,
    And one sweet kisse shal pay this comptlesse debt.
    85Vpon this promise did he raise his chin,
    Like a diuedapper peering through a waue,
    Who being lookt on, ducks as quickly in:
    So offers he to giue what she did craue,
    But when her lips were readie for his pay,
    90 He winks, and turnes his lips another way.