Venus And Adonis Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABABCC DEDFGG HIHJKL HHHHHH MHMHNN OPOPQQ IRISHH TUTUVV WXWXYY HZHA2B2B2 C2AC2AD2D2 HE2HE2F2F2 E2G2E2G2HH RE2SE2HH B2H2B2H2C2C2 HI2HI2PP IJ2IFH2K2 E2HE2HHH HOHOHH L2HL2HE2E2 M2HOHN2N2 O2HO2HP2P2 HE2HE2HH IQ2JQ2HH R2N2EN2QS2 T2HT2HHH HHHHU2U2 EE2EE2HH HHHHV2V2 HW2HW2HH HT2HT2RS HA2HVE2E2 X2HY2HVV Z2HZ2HHH E2HE2HM2O ZHZHVV A3E2B3E2C3D3 HHHHA2V R2G2E3G2T2T2 F3OF3OG3G3 OH3OH3T2T2 E2Q2E2Q2BB C2Q2C2Q2E2E2 T2HHHHH E2QE2QHH OHM2HQQ E2HE2HT2 QE2QC2E2E2 GHGHVZ B3HB3HI3I3 E2QE2QE2E2 QHQHE2E2 HJ3HJ3HH CE3CEW2W2 E2HE2HB3A3 HK3HK3HH JHIHT2T2 L3PL3PT2T2 HE2HE2HH W2Q2W2Q2OO HJHJQ2Q2 DHDHHH HHHHHH JA2JZEE HQHQVA2 HOHOHH HHHHHH PHPHOM2 HHHHHH HHHHA3B3 HHHHHH A3Q2B3Q2Q2Q2 RH3SH3HH HM3HM3Q2Q2 HHHHHH HHHHE2E2 HHHHVV THTHHH HHHHOM2 E2HE2HN3N3 HHHHT2T2 HL2HL2HH L2HL2HL2L2 L2L2L2L2L2L2 HHHHHH HQ2HQ2E2E2 HL2HL2H3H3 HE2HE2HH HHHHHH L3E2L3E2E2E2 L3HL3HHH HHHHT2T2 O3P3O3Q3I3I3 Q2Q2Q2Q2HH Q2L2Q2L2HH HHHHHH CHCHHH HR3HS3E2E2 G2E2G2E2Q2Q2 RHSHL2L2 E2T3E2T3Q2Q2 HHHHHH E2HE2HN3N3 HE2HE2HH HHHHE2E2 L2E2L2E2HH N3E2N3E2H3H3 HT2HT2HH HH3H HH T2Q2HQ2HH T2HT2HHH HL2HL2HH HHHHE2E2 HE2HE2E2E2 U3V3U3V3HH HHHHE2E2 N3HN3HV3V3 S3HS3HHH HE2HE2E2 E2 HE2HE2W3W3 E2E2E2E2L2L2 L2L2L2L2HH E2HE2HHH HHHHHH E2HE2HL2L2 HE2HE2HH H2HK2HL2L2 HGHGE2E2 L2X3L2X3E2E2 E2L2E2L2HH L2HL2HL2L2 GHGHE2E2 HY3HY3E2E2 L2L2L2L2E2E2 E2L2E2L2HH E2HE2HT2T2 HHHHHH HHHHE2E2 E2HE2HE2E2 HHHHE2E2 HHHHL2L2 E2E2E2E2E2E2 HT2HHHH E2HE2HHH GE2GE2E2T2 E2E2E2E2S3S3 E2HE2HE2E2 E2HE2HHH HHHHHH HHHHHH HHHHHH E2E2E2E2Q2Q2 HHHHQ2Q2 E2CE2CE2E2 HE2HE2HH E2HE2HHH HHHHHH Q2HQ2HHH Q2HQ2HHH HHHHE2E2 HT2HT2E2E2 HGHGHH E2E2E2E2E2E2 HE2HE2HH E2E2E2E2E2E2 HY3HY3E2E2 HHHHE2E2 Q2HQ2HHH GHGHE2E2 T2HT2HE2E2 HE2HE2E2E2 E2HE2HGG HE2HE2HH HE2HE2E2E2 E2HE2HE2E2 HHHHHH HHHHII E2E2T2E2HH E2HE2HHH HQ2HQ2CC HGHGHH E2U3E2U3E2E2 Q2CQ2CHH Q2E2Q2E2E2E2 HGHGE2E2 E2HE2HE2E2 E2HE2HHH E2HE2HE2E2 HHHHHH E2HE2HE2E2 HE2HE2Q2Q2 HE2HE2HH HHHHHH E2HE2HHH HHHHHH E2HE2HE2E2 E2HE2HHH HHHHHH E2HE2HE2E2

Even as the sun with purple coloured faceA
Had ta'en his last leave of the weeping mornB
Rose cheeked Adonis hied him to the chaseA
Hunting he loved but love he laughed to scornB
Sick thoughted Venus makes amain unto himC
And like a bold faced suitor 'gins to woo himC
-
Thrice fairer than myself thus she beganD
The fields chief flower sweet above compareE
Stain to all nymphs more lovely than a manD
More white and red than doves or roses areF
Nature that made thee with herself at strifeG
Saith that the world hath ending with thy lifeG
-
Vouchsafe thou wonder to alight thy steedH
And rein his proud head to the saddle bowI
If thou wilt deign this favour for thy meedH
A thousand honey secrets shalt thou knowJ
Here come and sit where never serpent hissesK
And being set I'll smother thee with kissesL
-
And yet not cloy thy lips with loathed satietyH
But rather famish them amid their plentyH
Making them red and pale with fresh varietyH
Ten kisses short as one one long as twentyH
A summer's day will seem an hour but shortH
Being wasted in such time beguiling sportH
-
With this she seizeth on his sweating palmM
The precedent of pith and livelihoodH
And trembling in her passion calls it balmM
Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess goodH
Being so enraged desire doth lend her forceN
Courageously to pluck him from his horseN
-
Over one arm the lusty courser's reinO
Under her other was the tender boyP
Who blushed and pouted in a dull disdainO
With leaden appetite unapt to toyP
She red and hot as coals of glowing fireQ
He red for shame but frosty in desireQ
-
The studded bridle on a ragged boughI
Nimbly she fastens O how quick is loveR
The steed is stalled up and even nowI
To tie the rider she begins to proveS
Backward she pushed him as she would be thrustH
And governed him in strength though not in lustH
-
So soon was she along as he was downT
Each leaning on their elbows and their hipsU
Now doth she stroke his cheek now doth he frownT
And 'gins to chide but soon she stops his lipsU
And kissing speaks with lustful language brokenV
If thou wilt chide thy lips shall never openV
-
He burns with bashful shame she with her tearsW
Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeksX
Then with her windy sighs and golden hairsW
To fan and blow them dry again she seeksX
He saith she is immodest blames her missY
What follows more she murders with a kissY
-
Even as an empty eagle sharp by fastH
Tires with her beak on feathers flesh and boneZ
Shaking her wings devouring all in hasteH
Till either gorge be stuffed or prey be goneA2
Even so she kissed his brow his cheek his chinB2
And where she ends she doth anew beginB2
-
Forced to content but never to obeyC2
Panting he lies and breatheth in her faceA
She feedeth on the steam as on a preyC2
And calls it heavenly moisture air of graceA
Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowersD2
So they were dewed with such distilling showersD2
-
Look how a bird lies tangled in a netH
So fastened in her arms Adonis liesE2
Pure shame and awed resistance made him fretH
Which bred more beauty in his angry eyesE2
Rain added to a river that is rankF2
Perforce will force it overflow the bankF2
-
Still she entreats and prettily entreatsE2
For to a pretty ear she tunes her taleG2
Still is he sullen still he lours and fretsE2
'Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy paleG2
Being red she loves him best and being whiteH
Her best is bettered with a more delightH
-
Look how he can she cannot choose but loveR
And by her fair immortal hand she swearsE2
From his soft bosom never to removeS
Till he take truce with her contending tearsE2
Which long have rained making her cheeks all wetH
And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debtH
-
Upon this promise did he raise his chinB2
Like a dive dapper peering through a waveH2
Who being looked on ducks as quickly inB2
So offers he to give what she did craveH2
But when her lips were ready for his payC2
He winks and turns his lips another wayC2
-
Never did passenger in summer's heatH
More thirst for drink than she for this good turnI2
Her help she sees but help she cannot getH
She bathes in water yet her fire must burnI2
O pity 'gan she cry flint hearted boyP
'Tis but a kiss I beg why art thou coyP
-
I have been wooed as I entreat thee nowI
Even by the stern and direful god of warJ2
Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bowI
Who conquers where he comes in every jarF
Yet hath he been my captive and my slaveH2
And begged for that which thou unasked shalt haveK2
-
Over my altars hath he hung his lanceE2
His battered shield his uncontrolled crestH
And for my sake hath learned to sport and danceE2
To toy to wanton dally smile and jestH
Scorning his churlish drum and ensign redH
Making my arms his field his tent my bedH
-
Thus he that overruled I overswayedH
Leading him prisoner in a red rose chainO
Strong tempered steel his stronger strength obeyedH
Yet was he servile to my coy disdainO
O be not proud nor brag not of thy mightH
For mast'ring her that foiled the god of fightH
-
Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thineL2
Though mine be not so fair yet are they redH
The kiss shall be thine own as well as mineL2
What seest thou in the ground Hold up thy headH
Look in mine eyeballs there thy beauty liesE2
Then why not lips on lips since eyes in eyesE2
-
Art thou ashamed to kiss Then wink againM2
And I will wink so shall the day seem nightH
Love keeps his revels where there are but twainO
Be bold to play our sport is not in sightH
These blue veined violets whereon we leanN2
Never can blab nor know not what we meanN2
-
The tender spring upon thy tempting lipO2
Shows thee unripe yet mayst thou well be tastedH
Make use of time let not advantage slipO2
Beauty within itself should not be wastedH
Fair flowers that are not gathered in their primeP2
Rot and consume themselves in little timeP2
-
Were I hard favoured foul or wrinkled oldH
Ill nurtured crooked churlish harsh in voiceE2
O'erworn despised rheumatic and coldH
Thick sighted barren lean and lacking juiceE2
Then mightst thou pause for then I were not for theeH
But having no defects why dost abhor meH
-
Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my browI
Mine eyes are grey and bright and quick in turningQ2
My beauty as the spring doth yearly growJ
My flesh is soft and plump my marrow burningQ2
My smooth moist hand were it with thy hand feltH
Would in thy palm dissolve or seem to meltH
-
Bid me discourse I will enchant thine earR2
Or like a fairy trip upon the greenN2
Or like a nymph with long dishevelled hairE
Dance on the sands and yet no footing seenN2
Love is a spirit all compact of fireQ
Not gross to sink but light and will aspireS2
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Witness this primrose bank whereon I lieT2
These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support meH
Two strengthless doves will draw me through the skyT2
From morn till night even where I list to sport meH
Is love so light sweet boy and may it beH
That thou should think it heavy unto theeH
-
Is thine own heart to thine own face affectedH
Can thy right hand seize love upon thy leftH
Then woo thyself be of thyself rejectedH
Steal thine own freedom and complain on theftH
Narcissus so himself himself forsookU2
And died to kiss his shadow in the brookU2
-
Torches are made to light jewels to wearE
Dainties to taste fresh beauty for the useE2
Herbs for their smell and sappy plants to bearE
Things growing to themselves are growth's abuseE2
Seeds spring from seeds and beauty breedeth beautyH
Thou wast begot to get it is thy dutyH
-
Upon the earth's increase why shouldst thou feedH
Unless the earth with thy increase be fedH
By law of nature thou art bound to breedH
That thine may live when thou thyself art deadH
And so in spite of death thou dost surviveV2
In that thy likeness still is left aliveV2
-
By this the lovesick queen began to sweatH
For where they lay the shadow had forsook themW2
And Titan tired in the midday heatH
With burning eye did hotly overlook themW2
Wishing Adonis had his team to guideH
So he were like him and by Venus' sideH
-
And now Adonis with a lazy spriteH
And with a heavy dark disliking eyeT2
His louring brows o'erwhelming his fair sightH
Like misty vapours when they blot the skyT2
Souring his cheeks cries Fie no more of loveR
The sun doth burn my face I must removeS
-
Ay me quoth Venus young and so unkindH
What bare excuses mak'st thou to be goneA2
I'll sigh celestial breath whose gentle windH
Shall cool the heat of this descending sunV
I'll make a shadow for thee of my hairsE2
If they burn too I'll quench them with my tearsE2
-
The sun that shines from heaven shines but warmX2
And lo I lie between that sun and theeH
The heat I have from thence doth little harmY2
Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth meH
And were I not immortal life were doneV
Between this heavenly and earthly sunV
-
Art thou obdurate flinty hard as steelZ2
Nay more than flint for stone at rain relentethH
Art thou a woman's son and canst not feelZ2
What 'tis to love how want of love tormentethH
O had thy mother borne so hard a mindH
She had not brought forth thee but died unkindH
-
What am I that thou shouldst contemn me thisE2
Or what great danger dwells upon my suitH
What were thy lips the worse for one poor kissE2
Speak fair but speak fair words or else be muteH
Give me one kiss I'll give it thee againM2
And one for int'rest if thou wilt have twainO
-
Fie lifeless picture cold and senseless stoneZ
Well painted idol image dull and deadH
Statue contenting but the eye aloneZ
Thing like a man but of no woman bredH
Thou art no man though of a man's complexionV
For men will kiss even by their own directionV
-
This said impatience chokes her pleading tongueA3
And swelling passion doth provoke a pauseE2
Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrongB3
Being judge in love she cannot right her causeE2
And now she weeps and now she fain would speakC3
And now her sobs do her intendments breakD3
-
Sometime she shakes her head and then his handH
Now gazeth she on him now on the groundH
Sometime her arms infold him like a bandH
She would he will not in her arms be boundH
And when from thence he struggles to be goneA2
She locks her lily fingers one in oneV
-
Fondling she saith since I have hemmed thee hereR2
Within the circuit of this ivory paleG2
I'll be a park and thou shalt be my deerE3
Feed where thou wilt on mountain or in daleG2
Graze on my lips and if those hills be dryT2
Stray lower where the pleasant fountains lieT2
-
Within this limit is relief enoughF3
Sweet bottom grass and high delightful plainO
Round rising hillocks brakes obscure and roughF3
To shelter thee from tempest and from rainO
Then be my deer since I am such a parkG3
No dog shall rouse thee though a thousand barkG3
-
At this Adonis smiles as in disdainO
That in each cheek appears a pretty dimpleH3
Love made those hollows if himself were slainO
He might be buried in a tomb so simpleH3
Foreknowing well if there he came to lieT2
Why there Love lived and there he could not dieT2
-
These lovely caves these round enchanting pitsE2
Opened their mouths to swallow Venus' likingQ2
Being mad before how doth she now for witsE2
Struck dead at first what needs a second strikingQ2
Poor queen of love in thine own law forlornB
To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scornB
-
Now which way shall she turn What shall she sayC2
Her words are done her woes the more increasingQ2
The time is spent her object will awayC2
And from her twining arms doth urge releasingQ2
Pity she cries Some favour some remorseE2
Away he springs and hasteth to his horseE2
-
But lo from forth a copse that neighbours byT2
A breeding jennet lusty young and proudH
Adonis' trampling courser doth espyH
And forth she rushes snorts and neighs aloudH
The strong necked steed being tied unto a treeH
Breaketh his rein and to her straight goes heH
-
Imperiously he leaps he neighs he boundsE2
And now his woven girths he breaks asunderQ
The bearing earth with his hard hoof he woundsE2
Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven's thunderQ
The iron bit he crusheth 'tween his teethH
Controlling what he was controlled withH
-
His ears up pricked his braided hanging maneO
Upon his compassed crest now stand on endH
His nostrils drink the air and forth againM2
As from a furnace vapours doth he sendH
His eye which scornfully glisters like fireQ
Shows his hot courage and his high desireQ
-
Sometime he trots as if he told the stepsE2
With gentle majesty and modest prideH
Anon he rears upright curvets and leapsE2
As who should say 'Lo thus my strength is triedH
And this I do to captivate the eyeT2
Of the fair breeder that is standing by '-
-
What recketh he his rider's angry stirQ
His flattering 'Holla' or his 'Stand I say'E2
What cares he now for curb or pricking spurQ
For rich caparisons or trappings gayC2
He sees his love and nothing else he seesE2
For nothing else with his proud sight agreesE2
-
Look when a painter would surpass the lifeG
In limning out a well proportioned steedH
His art with nature's workmanship at strifeG
As if the dead the living should exceedH
So did this horse excel a common oneV
In shape in courage colour pace and boneZ
-
Round hoofed short jointed fetlocks shag and longB3
Broad breast full eye small head and nostril wideH
High crest short ears straight legs and passing strongB3
Thin mane thick tail broad buttock tender hideH
Look what a horse should have he did not lackI3
Save a proud rider on so proud a backI3
-
Sometime he scuds far off and there he staresE2
Anon he starts at stirring of a featherQ
To bid the wind a base he now preparesE2
And whe'er he run or fly they know not whetherQ
For through his mane and tail the high wind singsE2
Fanning the hairs who wave like feathered wingsE2
-
He looks upon his love and neighs unto herQ
She answers him as if she knew his mindH
Being proud as females are to see him woo herQ
She puts on outward strangeness seems unkindH
Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feelsE2
Beating his kind embracements with her heelsE2
-
Then like a melancholy malcontentH
He vails his tail that like a falling plumeJ3
Cool shadow to his melting buttock lentH
He stamps and bites the poor flies in his fumeJ3
His love perceiving how he was enragedH
Grew kinder and his fury was assuagedH
-
His testy master goeth about to take himC
When lo the unbacked breeder full of fearE3
Jealous of catching swiftly doth forsake himC
With her the horse and left Adonis thereE
As they were mad unto the wood they hie themW2
Outstripping crows that strive to overfly themW2
-
All swoll'n with chafing down Adonis sitsE2
Banning his boist'rous and unruly beastH
And now the happy season once more fitsE2
That lovesick Love by pleading may be blestH
For lovers say the heart hath treble wrongB3
When it is barred the aidance of the tongueA3
-
An oven that is stopped or river stayedH
Burneth more hotly swelleth with more rageK3
So of concealed sorrow may be saidH
Free vent of words love's fire doth assuageK3
But when the heart's attorney once is muteH
The client breaks as desperate in his suitH
-
He sees her coming and begins to glowJ
Even as a dying coal revives with windH
And with his bonnet hides his angry browI
Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mindH
Taking no notice that she is so nighT2
For all askance he holds her in his eyeT2
-
O what a sight it was wistly to viewL3
How she came stealing to the wayward boyP
To note the fighting conflict of her hueL3
How white and red each other did destroyP
But now her cheek was pale and by and byT2
It flashed forth fire as lightning from the skyT2
-
Now was she just before him as he satH
And like a lowly lover down she kneelsE2
With one fair hand she heaveth up his hatH
Her other tender hand his fair cheek feelsE2
His tend'rer cheek receives her soft hand's printH
As apt as new fall'n snow takes any dintH
-
O what a war of looks was then between themW2
Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suingQ2
His eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen themW2
Her eyes wooed still his eyes disdained the wooingQ2
And all this dumb play had his acts made plainO
With tears which chorus like her eyes did rainO
-
Full gently now she takes him by the handH
A lily prisoned in a gaol of snowJ
Or ivory in an alabaster bandH
So white a friend engirts so white a foeJ
This beauteous combat wilful and unwillingQ2
Showed like two silver doves that sit a billingQ2
-
Once more the engine of her thoughts beganD
O fairest mover on this mortal roundH
Would thou wert as I am and I a manD
My heart all whole as thine thy heart my woundH
For one sweet look thy help I would assure theeH
Though nothing but my body's bane would cure theeH
-
Give me my hand saith he why dost thou feel itH
Give me my heart saith she and thou shalt have itH
O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel itH
And being steeled soft sighs can never grave itH
Then love's deep groans I never shall regardH
Because Adonis' heart hath made mine hardH
-
For shame he cries let go and let me goJ
My day's delight is past my horse is goneA2
And 'tis your fault I am bereft him soJ
I pray you hence and leave me here aloneZ
For all my mind my thought my busy careE
Is how to get my palfrey from the mareE
-
Thus she replies Thy palfrey as he shouldH
Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desireQ
Affection is a coal that must be cooledH
Else suffered it will set the heart on fireQ
The sea hath bounds but deep desire hath noneV
Therefore no marvel though thy horse be goneA2
-
How like a jade he stood tied to the treeH
Servilely mastered with a leathern reinO
But when he saw his love his youth's fair feeH
He held such petty bondage in disdainO
Throwing the base thong from his bending crestH
Enfranchising his mouth his back his breastH
-
Who sees his true love in her naked bedH
Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than whiteH
But when his glutton eye so full hath fedH
His other agents aim at like delightH
Who is so faint that dares not be so boldH
To touch the fire the weather being coldH
-
Let me excuse thy courser gentle boyP
And learn of him I heartily beseech theeH
To take advantage on presented joyP
Though I were dumb yet his proceedings teach theeH
O learn to love the lesson is but plainO
And once made perfect never lost againM2
-
I know not love quoth he nor will not know itH
Unless it be a boar and then I chase itH
'Tis much to borrow and I will not owe itH
My love to love is love but to disgrace itH
For I have heard it is a life in deathH
That laughs and weeps and all but with a breathH
-
Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinishedH
Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forthH
If springing things be any jot diminishedH
They wither in their prime prove nothing worthH
The colt that's backed and burdened being youngA3
Loseth his pride and never waxeth strongB3
-
You hurt my hand with wringing let us partH
And leave this idle theme this bootless chatH
Remove your siege from my unyielding heartH
To love's alarms it will not ope the gateH
Dismiss your vows your feigned tears your flatt'ryH
For where a heart is hard they make no batt'ryH
-
What canst thou talk quoth she Hast thou a tongueA3
O would thou hadst not or I had no hearingQ2
Thy mermaid's voice hath done me double wrongB3
I had my load before now pressed with bearingQ2
Melodious discord heavenly tune harsh soundingQ2
Ears' deep sweet music and heart's deep sore woundingQ2
-
Had I no eyes but ears my ears would loveR
That inward beauty and invisibleH3
Or were I deaf thy outward parts would moveS
Each part in me that were but sensibleH3
Though neither eyes nor ears to hear nor seeH
Yet should I be in love by touching theeH
-
Say that the sense of feeling were bereft meH
And that I could not see nor hear nor touchM3
And nothing but the very smell were left meH
Yet would my love to thee be still as muchM3
For from the stillitory of thy face excellingQ2
Comes breath perfumed that breedeth love by smellingQ2
-
But O what banquet wert thou to the tasteH
Being nurse and feeder of the other fourH
Would they not wish the feast might ever lastH
And bid Suspicion double lock the doorH
Lest jealousy that sour unwelcome guestH
Should by his stealing in disturb the feastH
-
Once more the ruby coloured portal openedH
Which to his speech did honey passage yieldH
Like a red morn that ever yet betokenedH
Wrack to the seaman tempest to the fieldH
Sorrow to shepherds woe unto the birdsE2
Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herdsE2
-
This ill presage advisedly she markethH
Even as the wind is hushed before it rainethH
Or as the wolf doth grin before he barkethH
Or as the berry breaks before it stainethH
Or like the deadly bullet of a gunV
His meaning struck her ere his words begunV
-
And at his look she flatly falleth downT
For looks kill love and love by looks revivethH
A smile recures the wounding of a frownT
But blessed bankrupt that by loss so thrivethH
The silly boy believing she is deadH
Claps her pale cheek till clapping makes it redH
-
And all amazed brake off his late intentH
For sharply did he think to reprehend herH
Which cunning love did wittily preventH
Fair fall the wit that can so well defend herH
For on the grass she lies as she were slainO
Till his breath breatheth life in her againM2
-
He wrings her nose he strikes her on the cheeksE2
He bends her fingers holds her pulses hardH
He chafes her lips a thousand ways he seeksE2
To mend the hurt that his unkindness marredH
He kisses her and she by her good willN3
Will never rise so he will kiss her stillN3
-
The night of sorrow now is turned to dayH
Her two blue windows faintly she up heavethH
Like the fair sun when in his fresh arrayH
He cheers the morn and all the earth relievethH
And as the bright sun glorifies the skyT2
So is her face illumined with her eyeT2
-
Whose beams upon his hairless face are fixedH
As if from thence they borrowed all their shineL2
Were never four such lamps together mixedH
Had not his clouded with his brow's repineL2
But hers which through the crystal tears gave lightH
Shone like the moon in water seen by nightH
-
O where am I quoth she In earth or heavenL2
Or in the ocean drenched or in the fireH
What hour is this or morn or weary evenL2
Do I delight to die or life desireH
But now I lived and life was death's annoyL2
But now I died and death was lively joyL2
-
O thou didst kill me kill me once againL2
Thy eyes' shrewd tutor that hard heart of thineL2
Hath taught them scornful tricks and such disdainL2
That they have murdered this poor heart of mineL2
And these mine eyes true leaders to their queenL2
But for thy piteous lips no more had seenL2
-
Long may they kiss each other for this cureH
O never let their crimson liveries wearH
And as they last their verdure still endureH
To drive infection from the dangerous yearH
That the star gazers having writ on deathH
May say the plague is banished by thy breathH
-
Pure lips sweet seals in my soft lips imprintedH
What bargains may I make still to be sealingQ2
To sell myself I can be well contentedH
So thou wilt buy and pay and use good dealingQ2
Which purchase if thou make for fear of slipsE2
Set thy seal manual on my wax red lipsE2
-
A thousand kisses buys my heart from meH
And pay them at thy leisure one by oneL2
What is ten hundred touches unto theeH
Are they not quickly told and quickly goneL2
Say for non payment that the debt should doubleH3
Is twenty hundred kisses such a troubleH3
-
Fair queen quoth he if any love you owe meH
Measure my strangeness with my unripe yearsE2
Before I know myself seek not to know meH
No fisher but the ungrown fry forbearsE2
The mellow plum doth fall the green sticks fastH
Or being early plucked is sour to tasteH
-
Look the world's comforter with weary gaitH
His day's hot task hath ended in the westH
The owl night's herald shrieks 'tis very lateH
The sheep are gone to fold birds to their nestH
And coal black clouds that shadow heaven's lightH
Do summon us to part and bid good nightH
-
Now let me say good night and so say youL3
If you will say so you shall have a kissE2
Good night quoth she and ere he says adieuL3
The honey fee of parting tendered isE2
Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embraceE2
Incorporate then they seem face grows to faceE2
-
Till breathless he disjoined and backward drewL3
The heavenly moisture that sweet coral mouthH
Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knewL3
Whereon they surfeit yet complain on drouthH
He with her plenty pressed she faint with dearthH
Their lips together glued fall to the earthH
-
Now quick desire hath caught the yielding preyH
And glutton like she feeds yet never fillethH
Her lips are conquerors his lips obeyH
Paying what ransom the insulter willethH
Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so highT2
That she will draw his lips' rich treasure dryT2
-
And having felt the sweetness of the spoilO3
With blindfold fury she begins to forageP3
Her face doth reek and smoke her blood doth boilO3
And careless lust stirs up a desperate courageQ3
Planting oblivion beating reason backI3
Forgetting shame's pure blush and honour's wrackI3
-
Hot faint and weary with her hard embracingQ2
Like a wild bird being tamed with too much handlingQ2
Or as the fleet foot roe that's tired with chasingQ2
Or like the froward infant stilled with dandlingQ2
He now obeys and now no more resistethH
While she takes all she can not all she listethH
-
What wax so frozen but dissolves with temp'ringQ2
And yields at last to very light impressionL2
Things out of hope are compassed oft with vent'ringQ2
Chiefly in love whose leave exceeds commissionL2
Affection faints not like a pale faced cowardH
But then woos best when most his choice is frowardH
-
When he did frown O had she then gave overH
Such nectar from his lips she had not suckedH
Foul words and frowns must not repel a loverH
What though the rose have prickles yet 'tis pluckedH
Were beauty under twenty locks kept fastH
Yet love breaks through and picks them all at lastH
-
For pity now she can no more detain himC
The poor fool prays her that he may departH
She is resolved no longer to restrain himC
Bids him farewell and look well to her heartH
The which by Cupid's bow she doth protestH
He carries thence encaged in his breastH
-
Sweet boy she says this night I'll waste in sorrowH
For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watchR3
Tell me love's master shall we meet tomorrowH
Say shall we shall we Wilt thou make the matchS3
He tells her no tomorrow he intendsE2
To hunt the boar with certain of his friendsE2
-
The boar quoth she whereat a sudden paleG2
Like lawn being spread upon the blushing roseE2
Usurps her cheek She trembles at his taleG2
And on his neck her yoking arms she throwsE2
She sinketh down still hanging by his neckQ2
He on her belly falls she on her backQ2
-
Now is she in the very lists of loveR
Her champion mounted for the hot encounterH
All is imaginary she doth proveS
He will not manage her although he mount herH
That worse than Tantalus' is her annoyL2
To clip Elysium and to lack her joyL2
-
Even so poor birds deceived with painted grapesE2
Do surfeit by the eye and pine the mawT3
Even so she languisheth in her mishapsE2
As those poor birds that helpless berries sawT3
The warm effects which she in him finds missingQ2
She seeks to kindle with continual kissingQ2
-
But all in vain good queen it will not beH
She hath assayed as much as may be provedH
Her pleading hath deserved a greater feeH
She's Love she loves and yet she is not lovedH
Fie fie he says you crush me let me goH
You have no reason to withhold me soH
-
Thou hadst been gone quoth she sweet boy ere thisE2
But that thou told'st me thou wouldst hunt the boarH
O be advised thou know'st not what it isE2
With javelin's point a churlish swine to goreH
Whose tushes never sheathed he whetteth stillN3
Like to a mortal butcher bent to killN3
-
On his bow back he hath a battle setH
Of bristly pikes that ever threat his foesE2
His eyes like glow worms shine when he doth fretH
His snout digs sepulchres where'er he goesE2
Being moved he strikes whate'er is in his wayH
And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slayH
-
His brawny sides with hairy bristles armedH
Are better proof than thy spear's point can enterH
His short thick neck cannot be easily harmedH
Being ireful on the lion he will venterH
The thorny brambles and embracing bushesE2
As fearful of him part through whom he rushesE2
-
Alas he nought esteems that face of thineL2
To which Love's eyes pays tributary gazesE2
Nor thy soft hands sweet lips and crystal eyneL2
Whose full perfection all the world amazesE2
But having thee at vantage wondrous dreadH
Would root these beauties as he roots the meadH
-
O let him keep his loathsome cabin stillN3
Beauty hath nought to do with such foul fiendsE2
Come not within his danger by thy willN3
They that thrive well take counsel of their friendsE2
When thou didst name the boar not to dissembleH3
I feared thy fortune and my joints did trembleH3
-
Didst thou not mark my face was it not whiteH
Saw'st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eyeT2
Grew I not faint and fell I not downrightH
Within my bosom whereon thou dost lieT2
My boding heart pants beats and takes no restH
But like an earthquake shakes thee on my breastH
-
For where Love reigns disturbing JealousyH
Doth call himself Affection's sentinelH3
Gives false alarms suggesteth mutinyH
And in a peaceful hour doth cry 'Kill kill '-
Distemp'ring gentle Love in his desireH
As air and water do abate the fireH
-
This sour informer this bate breeding spyT2
This canker that eats up Love's tender springQ2
This carry tale dissentious JealousyH
That sometime true news sometime false doth bringQ2
Knocks at my heart and whispers in mine earH
That if I love thee I thy death should fearH
-
And more than so presenteth to mine eyeT2
The picture of an angry chafing boarH
Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lieT2
An image like thyself all stained with goreH
Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shedH
Doth make them droop with grief and hang the headH
-
What should I do seeing thee so indeedH
That tremble at th' imaginationL2
The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleedH
And fear doth teach it divinationL2
I prophesy thy death my living sorrowH
If thou encounter with the boar tomorrowH
-
But if thou needs wilt hunt be ruled by meH
Uncouple at the timorous flying hareH
Or at the fox which lives by subtletyH
Or at the roe which no encounter dareH
Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downsE2
And on thy well breathed horse keep with thy houndsE2
-
And when thou hast on foot the purblind hareH
Mark the poor wretch to overshoot his troublesE2
How he outruns the wind and with what careH
He cranks and crosses with a thousand doublesE2
The many musits through the which he goesE2
Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foesE2
-
Sometime he runs among a flock of sheepU3
To make the cunning hounds mistake their smellV3
And sometime where earth delving conies keepU3
To stop the loud pursuers in their yellV3
And sometime sorteth with a herd of deerH
Danger deviseth shifts wit waits on fearH
-
For there his smell with others being mingledH
The hot scent snuffing hounds are driven to doubtH
Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singledH
With much ado the cold fault cleanly outH
Then they do spend their mouths Echo repliesE2
As if another chase were in the skiesE2
-
By this poor Wat far off upon a hillN3
Stands on his hinder legs with list'ning earH
To hearken if his foes pursue him stillN3
Anon their loud alarums he doth hearH
And now his grief may be compared wellV3
To one sore sick that hears the passing bellV3
-
Then shalt thou see the dew bedabbled wretchS3
Turn and return indenting with the wayH
Each envious briar his weary legs do scratchS3
Each shadow makes him stop each murmur stayH
For misery is trodden on by manyH
And being low never relieved by anyH
-
Lie quietly and hear a little moreH
Nay do not struggle for thou shalt not riseE2
To make thee hate the hunting of the boarH
Unlike myself thou hear'st me moraliseE2
Applying this to that and so to soE2
-
For love can comment upon every woeE2
-
Where did I leave No matter where quoth heH
Leave me and then the story aptly endsE2
The night is spent Why what of that quoth sheH
I am quoth he expected of my friendsE2
And now 'tis dark and going I shall fallW3
In night quoth she desire sees best of allW3
-
But if thou fall O then imagine thisE2
The earth in love with thee thy footing tripsE2
And all is but to rob thee of a kissE2
Rich preys make true men thieves so do thy lipsE2
Make modest Dian cloudy and forlornL2
Lest she should steal a kiss and die forswornL2
-
Now of this dark night I perceive the reasonL2
Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shineL2
Till forging Nature be condemned of treasonL2
For stealing moulds from heaven that were divineL2
Wherein she framed thee in high heaven's despiteH
To shame the sun by day and her by nightH
-
And therefore hath she bribed the DestiniesE2
To cross the curious workmanship of NatureH
To mingle beauty with infirmitiesE2
And pure perfection with impure defeatureH
Making it subject to the tyrannyH
Of mad mischances and much miseryH
-
As burning fevers agues pale and faintH
Life poisoning pestilence and frenzies woodH
The marrow eating sickness whose attaintH
Disorder breeds by heating of the bloodH
Surfeits imposthumes grief and damned despairH
Swear Nature's death for framing thee so fairH
-
And not the least of all these maladiesE2
But in one minute's fight brings beauty underH
Both favour savour hue and qualitiesE2
Whereat th' impartial gazer late did wonderH
Are on the sudden wasted thawed and doneL2
As mountain snow melts with the midday sunL2
-
Therefore despite of fruitless chastityH
Love lacking vestals and self loving nunsE2
That on the earth would breed a scarcityH
And barren dearth of daughters and of sonsE2
Be prodigal the lamp that burns by nightH
Dries up his oil to lend the world his lightH
-
What is thy body but a swallowing graveH2
Seeming to bury that posterityH
Which by the rights of time thou needs must haveK2
If thou destroy them not in dark obscurityH
If so the world will hold thee in disdainL2
Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slainL2
-
So in thyself thyself art made awayH
A mischief worse than civil home bred strifeG
Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slayH
Or butcher sire that reaves his son of lifeG
Foul cank'ring rust the hidden treasure fretsE2
But gold that's put to use more gold begetsE2
-
Nay then quoth Adon you will fall againL2
Into your idle overhandled themeX3
The kiss I gave you is bestowed in vainL2
And all in vain you strive against the streamX3
For by this black faced night desire's foul nurseE2
Your treatise makes me like you worse and worseE2
-
If love have lent you twenty thousand tonguesE2
And every tongue more moving than your ownL2
Bewitching like the wanton mermaid's songsE2
Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blownL2
For know my heart stands armed in mine earH
And will not let a false sound enter thereH
-
Lest the deceiving harmony should runL2
Into the quiet closure of my breastH
And then my little heart were quite undoneL2
In his bedchamber to be barred of restH
No lady no my heart longs not to groanL2
But soundly sleeps while now it sleeps aloneL2
-
What have you urged that I cannot reproveG
The path is smooth that leadeth on to dangerH
I hate not love but your device in loveG
That lends embracements unto every strangerH
You do it for increase O strange excuseE2
When reason is the bawd to lust's abuseE2
-
Call it not love for Love to heaven is fledH
Since sweating Lust on earth usurped his nameY3
Under whose simple semblance he hath fedH
Upon fresh beauty blotting it with blameY3
Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereavesE2
As caterpillars do the tender leavesE2
-
Love comforteth like sunshine after rainL2
But Lust's effect is tempest after sunL2
Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remainL2
Lust's winter comes ere summer half be doneL2
Love surfeits not Lust like a glutton diesE2
Love is all truth Lust full of forged liesE2
-
More I could tell but more I dare not sayE2
The text is old the orator too greenL2
Therefore in sadness now I will awayE2
My face is full of shame my heart of teenL2
Mine ears that to your wanton talk attendedH
Do burn themselves for having so offendedH
-
With this he breaketh from the sweet embraceE2
Of those fair arms which bound him to her breastH
And homeward through the dark land runs apaceE2
Leaves Love upon her back deeply distressedH
Look how a bright star shooteth from the skyT2
So glides he in the night from Venus' eyeT2
-
Which after him she darts as one on shoreH
Gazing upon a late embarked friendH
Till the wild waves will have him seen no moreH
Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contendH
So did the merciless and pitchy nightH
Fold in the object that did feed her sightH
-
Whereat amazed as one that unawareH
Hath dropped a precious jewel in the floodH
Or 'stonished as night wand'rers often areH
Their light blown out in some mistrustful woodH
Even so confounded in the dark she layE2
Having lost the fair discovery of her wayE2
-
And now she beats her heart whereat it groansE2
That all the neighbour caves as seeming troubledH
Make verbal repetition of her moansE2
Passion on passion deeply is redoubledH
Ay me she cries and twenty times Woe woeE2
And twenty echoes twenty times cry soE2
-
She marking them begins a wailing noteH
And sings extemporally a woeful dittyH
How love makes young men thrall and old men doteH
How love is wise in folly foolish wittyH
Her heavy anthem still concludes in woeE2
And still the choir of echoes answer soE2
-
Her song was tedious and outwore the nightH
For lovers' hours are long though seeming shortH
If pleased themselves others they think delightH
In suchlike circumstance with suchlike sportH
Their copious stories oftentimes begunL2
End without audience and are never doneL2
-
For who hath she to spend the night withalE2
But idle sounds resembling parasitesE2
Like shrill tongued tapsters answering every callE2
Soothing the humour of fantastic witsE2
She says 'Tis so they answer all 'Tis soE2
And would say after her if she said NoE2
-
Lo here the gentle lark weary of restH
From his moist cabinet mounts up on highT2
And wakes the morning from whose silver breastH
The sun ariseth in his majestyH
Who doth the world so gloriously beholdH
That cedar tops and hills seem burnished goldH
-
Venus salutes him with this fair good morrowE2
O thou clear god and patron of all lightH
From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrowE2
The beauteous influence that makes him brightH
There lives a son that sucked an earthly motherH
May lend thee light as thou dost lend to otherH
-
This said she hasteth to a myrtle groveG
Musing the morning is so much o'erwornE2
And yet she hears no tidings of her loveG
She hearkens for his hounds and for his hornE2
Anon she hears them chant it lustilyE2
And all in haste she coasteth to the cryT2
-
And as she runs the bushes in the wayE2
Some catch her by the neck some kiss her faceE2
Some twine about her thigh to make her stayE2
She wildly breaketh from their strict embraceE2
Like a milch doe whose swelling dugs do acheS3
Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brakeS3
-
By this she hears the hounds are at a bayE2
Whereat she starts like one that spies an adderH
Wreathed up in fatal folds just in his wayE2
The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudderH
Even so the timorous yelping of the houndsE2
Appals her senses and her spirit confoundsE2
-
For now she knows it is no gentle chaseE2
But the blunt boar rough bear or lion proudH
Because the cry remaineth in one placeE2
Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloudH
Finding their enemy to be so curstH
They all strain court'sy who shall cope him firstH
-
This dismal cry rings sadly in her earH
Through which it enters to surprise her heartH
Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fearH
With cold pale weakness numbs each feeling partH
Like soldiers when their captain once doth yieldH
They basely fly and dare not stay the fieldH
-
Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasyH
Till cheering up her senses all dismayedH
She tells them 'tis a causeless fantasyH
And childish error that they are afraidH
Bids them leave quaking bids them fear no moreH
And with that word she spied the hunted boarH
-
Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with redH
Like milk and blood being mingled both togetherH
A second fear through all her sinews spreadH
Which madly hurries her she knows not whitherH
This way she runs and now she will no furtherH
And back retires to rate the boar for murtherH
-
A thousand spleens bear her a thousand waysE2
She treads the path that she untreads againE2
Her more than haste is mated with delaysE2
Like the proceedings of a drunken brainE2
Full of respects yet nought at all respectingQ2
In hand with all things nought at all effectingQ2
-
Here kennelled in a brake she finds a houndH
And asks the weary caitiff for his masterH
And there another licking of his woundH
'Gainst venomed sores the only sovereign plasterH
And here she meets another sadly scowlingQ2
To whom she speaks and he replies with howlingQ2
-
When he hath ceased his ill resounding noiseE2
Another flap mouthed mourner black and grimC
Against the welkin volleys out his voiceE2
Another and another answer himC
Clapping their proud tails to the ground belowE2
Shaking their scratched ears bleeding as they goE2
-
Look how the world's poor people are amazedH
At apparitions signs and prodigiesE2
Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazedH
Infusing them with dreadful propheciesE2
So she at these sad signs draws up her breathH
And sighing it again exclaims on DeathH
-
Hard favoured tyrant ugly meagre leanE2
Hateful divorce of love thus chides she DeathH
Grim grinning ghost earth's worm what dost thou meanE2
To stifle beauty and to steal his breathH
Who when he lived his breath and beauty setH
Gloss on the rose smell to the violetH
-
If he be dead O no it cannot beH
Seeing his beauty thou shouldst strike at itH
O yes it may thou hast no eyes to seeH
But hatefully at random dost thou hitH
Thy mark is feeble age but thy false dartH
Mistakes that aim and cleaves an infant's heartH
-
Hadst thou but bid beware then he had spokeQ2
And hearing him thy power had lost his powerH
The Destinies will curse thee for this strokeQ2
They bid thee crop a weed thou pluck'st a flowerH
Love's golden arrow at him should have fledH
And not Death's ebon dart to strike him deadH
-
Dost thou drink tears that thou provok'st such weepingQ2
What may a heavy groan advantage theeH
Why hast thou cast into eternal sleepingQ2
Those eyes that taught all other eyes to seeH
Now Nature cares not for thy mortal vigourH
Since her best work is ruined with thy rigourH
-
Here overcome as one full of despairH
She vailed her eyelids who like sluices stoppedH
The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fairH
In the sweet channel of her bosom droppedH
But through the floodgates breaks the silver rainE2
And with his strong course opens them againE2
-
O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrowH
Her eye seen in the tears tears in her eyeT2
Both crystals where they viewed each other's sorrowH
Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dryT2
But like a stormy day now wind now rainE2
Sighs dry her cheeks tears make them wet againE2
-
Variable passions throng her constant woeH
As striving who should best become her griefG
All entertained each passion labours soH
That every present sorrow seemeth chiefG
But none is best Then join they all togetherH
Like many clouds consulting for foul weatherH
-
By this far off she hears some huntsman holloaE2
A nurse's song ne'er pleased her babe so wellE2
The dire imagination she did followE2
This sound of hope doth labour to expelE2
For now reviving joy bids her rejoiceE2
And flatters her it is Adonis' voiceE2
-
Whereat her tears began to turn their tideH
Being prisoned in her eye like pearls in glassE2
Yet sometimes falls an orient drop besideH
Which her cheek melts as scorning it should passE2
To wash the foul face of the sluttish groundH
Who is but drunken when she seemeth drownedH
-
O hard believing love how strange it seemsE2
Not to believe and yet too credulousE2
Thy weal and woe are both of them extremesE2
Despair and hope makes thee ridiculousE2
The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikelyE2
In likely thoughts the other kills thee quicklyE2
-
Now she unweaves the web that she hath wroughtH
Adonis lives and Death is not to blameY3
It was not she that called him all to noughtH
Now she adds honours to his hateful nameY3
She clepes him king of graves and grave for kingsE2
Imperious supreme of all mortal thingsE2
-
No no quoth she sweet Death I did but jestH
Yet pardon me I felt a kind of fearH
When as I met the boar that bloody beastH
Which knows no pity but is still severeH
Then gentle shadow truth I must confessE2
I railed on thee fearing my love's deceaseE2
-
'Tis not my fault the boar provoked my tongueQ2
Be wreaked on him invisible commanderH
'Tis he foul creature that hath done thee wrongQ2
I did but act he's author of thy slanderH
Grief hath two tongues and never woman yetH
Could rule them both without ten women's witH
-
Thus hoping that Adonis is aliveG
Her rash suspect she doth extenuateH
And that his beauty may the better thriveG
With Death she humbly doth insinuateH
Tells him of trophies statues tombs and storiesE2
His victories his triumphs and his gloriesE2
-
O Jove quoth she how much a fool was IT2
To be of such a weak and silly mindH
To wail his death who lives and must not dieT2
Till mutual overthrow of mortal kindH
For he being dead with him is Beauty slainE2
And Beauty dead black Chaos comes againE2
-
Fie fie fond love thou art as full of fearH
As one with treasure laden hemmed with thievesE2
Trifles unwitnessed with eye or earH
Thy coward heart with false bethinking grievesE2
Even at this word she hears a merry hornE2
Whereat she leaps that was but late forlornE2
-
As falcons to the lure away she fliesE2
The grass stoops not she treads on it so lightH
And in her haste unfortunately spiesE2
The foul boar's conquest on her fair delightH
Which seen her eyes as murdered with the viewG
Like stars ashamed of day themselves withdrewG
-
Or as the snail whose tender horns being hitH
Shrinks backward in his shelly cave with painE2
And there all smothered up in shade doth sitH
Long after fearing to creep forth againE2
So at his bloody view her eyes are fledH
Into the deep dark cabins of her headH
-
Where they resign their office and their lightH
To the disposing of her troubled brainE2
Who bids them still consort with ugly nightH
And never wound the heart with looks againE2
Who like a king perplexed in his throneE2
By their suggestion gives a deadly groanE2
-
Whereat each tributary subject quakesE2
As when the wind imprisoned in the groundH
Struggling for passage earth's foundation shakesE2
Which with cold terror doth men's minds confoundH
This mutiny each part doth so surpriseE2
That from their dark beds once more leap her eyesE2
-
And being opened threw unwilling lightH
Upon the wide wound that the boar had trenchedH
In his soft flank whose wonted lily whiteH
With purple tears that his wound wept was drenchedH
No flower was nigh no grass herb leaf or weedH
But stole his blood and seemed with him to bleedH
-
This solemn sympathy poor Venus notethH
Over one shoulder doth she hang her headH
Dumbly she passions franticly she dotethH
She thinks he could not die he is not deadH
Her voice is stopped her joints forget to bowI
Her eyes are mad that they have wept till nowI
-
Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastlyE2
That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem threeE2
And then she reprehends her mangling eyeT2
That makes more gashes where no breach should beE2
His face seems twain each several limb is doubledH
For oft the eye mistakes the brain being troubledH
-
My tongue cannot express my grief for oneE2
And yet quoth she behold two Adons deadH
My sighs are blown away my salt tears goneE2
Mine eyes are turned to fire my heart to leadH
Heavy heart's lead melt at mine eyes' red fireH
So I shall die by drops of hot desireH
-
Alas poor world what treasure hast thou lostH
What face remains alive that's worth the viewingQ2
What tongue is music now What canst thou boastH
Of things long since or anything ensuingQ2
The flowers are sweet their colours fresh and trimC
But true sweet beauty lived and died with himC
-
Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wearH
Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss youG
Having no fair to lose you need not fearH
The sun doth scorn you and the wind doth hiss youG
But when Adonis lived sun and sharp airH
Lurked like two thieves to rob him of his fairH
-
And therefore would he put his bonnet onE2
Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peepU3
The wind would blow it off and being goneE2
Play with his locks then would Adonis weepU3
And straight in pity of his tender yearsE2
They both would strive who first should dry his tearsE2
-
To see his face the lion walked alongQ2
Behind some hedge because he would not fear himC
To recreate himself when he hath sungQ2
The tiger would be tame and gently hear himC
If he had spoke the wolf would leave his preyH
And never fright the silly lamb that dayH
-
When he beheld his shadow in the brookQ2
The fishes spread on it their golden gillsE2
When he was by the birds such pleasure tookQ2
That some would sing some other in their billsE2
Would bring him mulberries and ripe red cherriesE2
He fed them with his sight they him with berriesE2
-
But this foul grim and urchin snouted boarH
Whose downward eye still looketh for a graveG
Ne'er saw the beauteous livery that he woreH
Witness the entertainment that he gaveG
If he did see his face why then I knowE2
He thought to kiss him and hath killed him soE2
-
'Tis true 'tis true thus was Adonis slainE2
He ran upon the boar with his sharp spearH
Who did not whet his teeth at him againE2
But by a kiss thought to persuade him thereH
And nuzzling in his flank the loving swineE2
Sheathed unaware the tusk in his soft groinE2
-
Had I been toothed like him I must confessE2
With kissing him I should have killed him firstH
But he is dead and never did he blessE2
My youth with his the more am I accurstH
With this she falleth in the place she stoodH
And stains her face with his congealed bloodH
-
She looks upon his lips and they are paleE2
She takes him by the hand and that is coldH
She whispers in his ears a heavy taleE2
As if they heard the woeful words she toldH
She lifts the coffer lids that close his eyesE2
Where lo two lamps burnt out in darkness liesE2
-
Two glasses where herself herself beheldH
A thousand times and now no more reflectH
Their virtue lost wherein they late excelledH
And every beauty robbed of his effectH
Wonder of time quoth she this is my spiteH
That thou being dead the day should yet be lightH
-
Since thou art dead lo here I prophesyE2
Sorrow on love hereafter shall attendH
It shall be waited on with jealousyE2
Find sweet beginning but unsavoury endH
Ne'er settled equally but high or lowE2
That all love's pleasure shall not match his woeE2
-
It shall be fickle false and full of fraudH
Bud and be blasted in a breathing whileE2
The bottom poison and the top o'erstrawedH
With sweets that shall the truest sight beguileE2
The strongest body shall it make most weakQ2
Strike the wise dumb and teach the fool to speakQ2
-
It shall be sparing and too full of riotH
Teaching decrepit age to tread the measuresE2
The staring ruffian shall it keep in quietH
Pluck down the rich enrich the poor with treasuresE2
It shall be raging mad and silly mildH
Make the young old the old become a childH
-
It shall suspect where is no cause of fearH
It shall not fear where it should most mistrustH
It shall be merciful and too severeH
And most deceiving when it seems most justH
Perverse it shall be where it shows most towardH
Put fear to valour courage to the cowardH
-
It shall be cause of war and dire eventsE2
And set dissension 'twixt the son and sireH
Subject and servile to all discontentsE2
As dry combustious matter is to fireH
Sith in his prime death doth my love destroyH
They that love best their loves shall not enjoyH
-
By this the boy that by her side lay killedH
Was melted like a vapour from her sightH
And in his blood that on the ground lay spilledH
A purple flower sprung up chequered with whiteH
Resembling well his pale cheeks and the bloodH
Which in round drops upon their whiteness stoodH
-
She bows her head the new sprung flower to smellE2
Comparing it to her Adonis' breathH
And says within her bosom it shall dwellE2
Since he himself is reft from her by deathH
She crops the stalk and in the breach appearsE2
Green dropping sap which she compares to tearsE2
-
Poor flower quoth she this was thy father's guiseE2
Sweet issue of a more sweet smelling sireH
For every little grief to wet his eyesE2
To grow unto himself was his desireH
And so 'tis thine but know it is as goodH
To wither in my breast as in his bloodH
-
Here was thy father's bed here in my breastH
Thou art the next of blood and 'tis thy rightH
Lo in this hollow cradle take thy restH
My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and nightH
There shall not be one minute in an hourH
Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flowerH
-
Thus weary of the world away she hiesE2
And yokes her silver doves by whose swift aidH
Their mistress mounted through the empty skiesE2
In her light chariot quickly is conveyedH
Holding their course to Paphos where their queenE2
Means to immure herself and not be seenE2

William Shakespeare



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