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)

    Bonnet, nor vaile henceforth no creature weare,
    Nor sunne, nor wind will euer striue to kisse you,
    Hauing no faire to lose, you need not feare,
    The sun doth skorne you, & the wind doth hisse you.
    1085 But when Adonis liu'de, sunne, and sharpe aire,
    Lurkt like two theeues, to rob him of his faire.
    And therefore would he put his bonnet on,
    Vnder whose brim the gaudie sunne would peepe,
    The wind would blow it off, and being gon,
    1090Play with his locks, then would Adonis weepe.
    And straight in pittie of his tender yeares,
    They both would striue who first should drie his (teares.
    To see his face the Lion walkt along,
    Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him:
    1095To recreate himself when he hath song,
    The Tygre would be tame, and gently heare him.
    If he had spoke, the wolfe would leaue his praie,
    And neuer fright the sillie lambe that daie.
    When he beheld his shadow in the brooke,
    1100The fishes spread on it their golden gils,
    When he was by the birds such pleasure tooke,
    That some would sing, some other in their bils
    Would bring him mulberries & ripe-red cherries,
    He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.
    1105But this foule, grim, and vrchin-snowted Boare,
    Whose downeward eye still looketh for a graue:
    Ne're saw the beautious liuerie that he wore,
    Witnesse the intertainment that he gaue.
    If he did see his face, why then I know,
    1110 He thought to kisse him, and hath kild him so.