Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)

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- Venus and Adonis, Quarto 1

Stanzas 1–5
Pages
1. Page 1
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Complete text

 11EVEN as the sunne with purple-colourd face,
 2Had tane his last leaue of the weeping morne,
 3Rose-cheekt Adonis hied him to the chace,
 4Hunting he lou'd, but loue he laught to scorne:
 5 Sick-thoughted Venus makes amaine vnto him,
 6 And like a bold fac'd suter ginnes to woo him.
 27Thrise fairer then my selfe, (thus she began)
 8The fields chiefe flower, sweet aboue compare,
 9Staine to all Nimphs, more louely then a man,
 10More white, and red, then doues, or roses are:
 11 Nature that made thee with her selfe at strife,
 12 Saith that the world hath ending with thy life.
 313Vouchsafe thou wonder to alight thy steed,
 14And raine his proud head to the saddle bow,
 15If thou wilt daine this fauor, for thy meed
 16A thousand honie secrets shalt thou know:
 17 Here come and sit, where neuer serpent hisses,
 18 And being set, Ile smother thee with kisses.
 419And yet not cloy thy lips with loth'd sacietie,
 20But rather famish them amid their plentie,
 21Making them red, and pale, with fresh varietie:
 22Ten kisses short as one, one long as twentie:
 23 A sommers day will seeme an houre but short,
 24 Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.
 525With this she ceazeth on his sweating palme,
 26The president of pith, and liuelyhood,
 27And trembling in her passion, calls it balme,  
 28Earths soueraigne salue, to do a goddesse good,
 29 Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force,
 30 Couragiously to plucke him from his horse.

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Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)