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)

    Full gently now she takes him by the hand,
    A lillie prisond in a gaile of snow,
    Or Iuorie in an allablaster band,
    So white a friend, ingirts so white a fo:
    365 This beautious combat wilfull, and vnwilling,
    Showed like two siluer doues that sit a billing.
    Once more the engin of her thoughts began,
    O fairest mouer on this mortall round,
    Would thou wert as I am, and I a man,
    370My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound,
    For one sweet looke thy helpe I would assure thee,
    Thogh nothing but my bodies bane wold cure thee
    Giue me my hand (saith he,) why dost thou feele it?
    Giue me my heart (saith she,) and thou shalt haue it.
    375O giue it me lest thy hard heart do steele it,
    And being steeld, soft sighes can neuer graue it.
    Then loues deepe grones, I neuer shall regard,
    Because Adonis heart hath made mine hard.
    For shame he cries, let go, and let me go,
    380My dayes delight is past, my horse is gone,
    And tis your fault I am bereft him so,
    I pray you hence, and leaue me here alone,
    For all my mind, my thought, my busie care,
    Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.
    385Thus she replies, thy palfrey as he should,
    Welcomes the warme approch of sweet desire,
    Affection is a coale that must be coold,
    Else sufferd it will set the heart on fire,
    The sea hath bounds, but deepe desire hath none,
    390 Therfore no maruell though thy horse be gone.