Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Peer Reviewed

Venus and Adonis (Quarto 1, 1593)

Sometime he scuds farre off, aud there hestares,
Anon he starts, at sturring of a feather:
To bid the wind a base he now prepares,
And where he runne, or flie, they know not whether:
305 For through his mane, & taile, the high wind sings,
Fanning the haires, who waue like feathred wings.
He lookes vpon his loue, and neighes vnto her,
She answers him, as if she knew his minde,
Being proud as females are, to see him woo her,
310She puts on outward strangenesse,seemes vnkinde:
Spurnes at his loue, and scorns the heat he feeles,
Beating his kind imbracements with her heeles.
Then like a melancholy malcontent,
He vailes his taile that like a falling plume,
315Coole shadow to his melting buttocke lent,
He stamps, and bites the poore flies in his fume:
His loue perceiuing how he was inrag'd,
Grew kinder, and his furie was asswag'd.
His testie maister goeth about to take him,
320When lo the vnbackt breeder full of feare,
Iealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,
With her the Horse, and left Adonis there:
As they were mad vnto the wood they hie them,
Outstripping crowes, that striue to ouerfly them.
325All swolne with chafing, downe Adonis sits,
Banning his boystrous, and vnruly beast;
And now the happie season once more fits
That louesicke loue, by pleading may be blest:
For louers say, the heart hath treble wrong,
330 When it is bard the aydance of the tongue.