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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1045-0.txt b/1045-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c5d61c --- /dev/null +++ b/1045-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1438 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1045 *** + + VENUS AND ADONIS + + + by William Shakespeare + + + _Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo + Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua._ + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE + +HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, + +and Baron of Titchfield. + + +Right Honourable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my +unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me +for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if +your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow +to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some +graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I +shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so +barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it +to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart’s content; +which I wish may always answer your own wish and the world’s hopeful +expectation. + + +Your honour’s in all duty, + + +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. + + + VENUS AND ADONIS + + +Even as the sun with purple-colour’d face +Had ta’en his last leave of the weeping morn, +Rose-cheek’d Adonis hied him to the chase; +Hunting he lov’d, but love he laugh’d to scorn; 4 + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, + And like a bold-fac’d suitor ’gins to woo him. + +“Thrice fairer than myself,” thus she began, +“The field’s chief flower, sweet above compare, 8 +Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man, +More white and red than doves or roses are: + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12 + +“Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, +And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow; +If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed +A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16 + Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses, + And being set, I’ll smother thee with kisses. + +“And yet not cloy thy lips with loath’d satiety, +But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20 +Making them red, and pale, with fresh variety: +Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: + A summer’s day will seem an hour but short, + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.” 24 + +With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, +The precedent of pith and livelihood, +And trembling in her passion, calls it balm, +Earth’s sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28 + Being so enrag’d, desire doth lend her force + Courageously to pluck him from his horse. + +Over one arm the lusty courser’s rein, +Under her other was the tender boy, 32 +Who blush’d and pouted in a dull disdain, +With leaden appetite, unapt to toy; + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire, + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36 + +The studded bridle on a ragged bough +Nimbly she fastens;—O! how quick is love!— +The steed is stalled up, and even now +To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40 + Backward she push’d him, as she would be thrust, + And govern’d him in strength, though not in lust. + +So soon was she along, as he was down, +Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44 +Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, +And ’gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips, + And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, + “If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.” 48 + +He burns with bashful shame, she with her tears +Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; +Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs +To fan and blow them dry again she seeks. 52 + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss; + What follows more, she murders with a kiss. + +Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, +Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56 +Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste, +Till either gorge be stuff’d or prey be gone: + Even so she kiss’d his brow, his cheek, his chin, + And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60 + +Forc’d to content, but never to obey, +Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face. +She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey, +And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace, 64 + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers + So they were dew’d with such distilling showers. + +Look how a bird lies tangled in a net, +So fasten’d in her arms Adonis lies; 68 +Pure shame and aw’d resistance made him fret, +Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes: + Rain added to a river that is rank + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72 + +Still she entreats, and prettily entreats, +For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale. +Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets, +’Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale; 76 + Being red she loves him best, and being white, + Her best is better’d with a more delight. + +Look how he can, she cannot choose but love; +And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80 +From his soft bosom never to remove, +Till he take truce with her contending tears, + Which long have rain’d, making her cheeks all wet; + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt. + +Upon this promise did he raise his chin, 85 +Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave, +Who, being look’d on, ducks as quickly in; +So offers he to give what she did crave, 88 + But when her lips were ready for his pay, + He winks, and turns his lips another way. + +Never did passenger in summer’s heat +More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92 +Her help she sees, but help she cannot get; +She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: + “O! pity,” ’gan she cry, “flint-hearted boy, + ’Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96 + +“I have been woo’d as I entreat thee now, +Even by the stern and direful god of war, +Whose sinewy neck in battle ne’er did bow, +Who conquers where he comes in every jar; 100 + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, + And begg’d for that which thou unask’d shalt have. + +“Over my altars hath he hung his lance, +His batter’d shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104 +And for my sake hath learn’d to sport and dance, +To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108 + +“Thus he that overrul’d I oversway’d, +Leading him prisoner in a red rose chain: +Strong-temper’d steel his stronger strength obey’d, +Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112 + Oh be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, + For mast’ring her that foil’d the god of fight. + +“Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, +Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red, 116 +The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine: +What see’st thou in the ground? hold up thy head, + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies; + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120 + +“Art thou asham’d to kiss? then wink again, +And I will wink; so shall the day seem night. +Love keeps his revels where there are but twain; +Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight, 124 + These blue-vein’d violets whereon we lean + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean. + +“The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127 +Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted, +Make use of time, let not advantage slip; +Beauty within itself should not be wasted, + Fair flowers that are not gather’d in their prime + Rot, and consume themselves in little time. 132 + +“Were I hard-favour’d, foul, or wrinkled old, +Ill-nurtur’d, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, +O’erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold, +Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136 + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; + But having no defects, why dost abhor me? + +“Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow, 139 +Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning; +My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow, +My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning, + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt, + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144 + +“Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear, +Or like a fairy, trip upon the green, +Or like a nymph, with long dishevell’d hair, +Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen. 148 + Love is a spirit all compact of fire, + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. + +“Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie: 151 +These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; +Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky, +From morn till night, even where I list to sport me. + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156 + +“Is thine own heart to thine own face affected? +Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left? +Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected, +Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160 + Narcissus so himself himself forsook, + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. + +“Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, +Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164 +Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear; +Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse, + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty; + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168 + +“Upon the earth’s increase why shouldst thou feed, +Unless the earth with thy increase be fed? +By law of nature thou art bound to breed, +That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172 + And so in spite of death thou dost survive, + In that thy likeness still is left alive.” + +By this the love-sick queen began to sweat, +For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176 +And Titan, tired in the midday heat, +With burning eye did hotly overlook them, + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide, + So he were like him and by Venus’ side. 180 + +And now Adonis with a lazy spright, +And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye, +His louring brows o’erwhelming his fair sight, +Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184 + Souring his cheeks, cries, “Fie, no more of love: + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.” + +“Ay me,” quoth Venus, “young, and so unkind! +What bare excuses mak’st thou to be gone! 188 +I’ll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind +Shall cool the heat of this descending sun: + I’ll make a shadow for thee of my hairs; + If they burn too, I’ll quench them with my tears. 192 + +“The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm, +And lo I lie between that sun and thee: +The heat I have from thence doth little harm, +Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196 + And were I not immortal, life were done, + Between this heavenly and earthly sun. + +“Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel? +Nay more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200 +Art thou a woman’s son and canst not feel +What ’tis to love, how want of love tormenteth? + O had thy mother borne so hard a mind, + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. 204 + +“What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this? +Or what great danger dwells upon my suit? +What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? +Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: 208 + Give me one kiss, I’ll give it thee again, + And one for int’rest, if thou wilt have twain. + +“Fie, lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone, +Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212 +Statue contenting but the eye alone, +Thing like a man, but of no woman bred: + Thou art no man, though of a man’s complexion, + For men will kiss even by their own direction.” 216 + +This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue, +And swelling passion doth provoke a pause; +Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong; +Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause. 220 + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak, + And now her sobs do her intendments break. + +Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand, +Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224 +Sometimes her arms infold him like a band: +She would, he will not in her arms be bound; + And when from thence he struggles to be gone, + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228 + +“Fondling,” she saith, “since I have hemm’d thee here +Within the circuit of this ivory pale, +I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer; +Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232 + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry, + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. + +“Within this limit is relief enough, +Sweet bottom grass and high delightful plain, 236 +Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, +To shelter thee from tempest and from rain: + Then be my deer, since I am such a park, 239 + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.” + +At this Adonis smiles as in disdain, +That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple; +Love made those hollows, if himself were slain, +He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244 + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie, + Why there love liv’d, and there he could not die. + +These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits, +Open’d their mouths to swallow Venus’ liking. 248 +Being mad before, how doth she now for wits? +Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking? + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn, + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252 + +Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say? +Her words are done, her woes the more increasing; +The time is spent, her object will away, +And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256 + “Pity,” she cries; “some favour, some remorse!” + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse. + +But lo from forth a copse that neighbours by, +A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260 +Adonis’ tramping courser doth espy, +And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud: + The strong-neck’d steed, being tied unto a tree, + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264 + +Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, +And now his woven girths he breaks asunder; +The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds, +Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven’s thunder; + The iron bit he crusheth ’tween his teeth, 269 + Controlling what he was controlled with. + +His ears up-prick’d; his braided hanging mane +Upon his compass’d crest now stand on end; 272 +His nostrils drink the air, and forth again, +As from a furnace, vapours doth he send: + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire, + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276 + +Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps, +With gentle majesty and modest pride; +Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps, +As who should say, “Lo thus my strength is tried; + And this I do to captivate the eye 281 + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.” + +What recketh he his rider’s angry stir, +His flattering “Holla”, or his “Stand, I say”? 284 +What cares he now for curb or pricking spur? +For rich caparisons or trappings gay? + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees, + For nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288 + +Look when a painter would surpass the life, +In limning out a well-proportion’d steed, +His art with nature’s workmanship at strife, +As if the dead the living should exceed: 292 + So did this horse excel a common one, + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone. + +Round-hoof’d, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, +Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide, +High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong, +Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide: + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack, + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300 + +Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares; +Anon he starts at stirring of a feather: +To bid the wind a base he now prepares, +And where he run or fly they know not whether; 304 + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings, + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather’d wings. + +He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her; +She answers him as if she knew his mind, 308 +Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her, +She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind, + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels, + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312 + +Then like a melancholy malcontent, +He vails his tail that like a falling plume, +Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent: +He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316 + His love, perceiving how he was enrag’d, + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag’d. + +His testy master goeth about to take him, +When lo the unback’d breeder, full of fear, 320 +Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him, +With her the horse, and left Adonis there: + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them, + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324 + +All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits, +Banning his boisterous and unruly beast; +And now the happy season once more fits +That love-sick love by pleading may be blest; 328 + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong, + When it is barr’d the aidance of the tongue. + +An oven that is stopp’d, or river stay’d, +Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332 +So of concealed sorrow may be said, +Free vent of words love’s fire doth assuage; + But when the heart’s attorney once is mute, + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336 + +He sees her coming, and begins to glow, +Even as a dying coal revives with wind, +And with his bonnet hides his angry brow, +Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340 + Taking no notice that she is so nigh, + For all askance he holds her in his eye. + +O what a sight it was, wistly to view +How she came stealing to the wayward boy, 344 +To note the fighting conflict of her hue, +How white and red each other did destroy: + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by + It flash’d forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348 + +Now was she just before him as he sat, +And like a lowly lover down she kneels; +With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat, +Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352 + His tend’rer cheek receives her soft hand’s print, + As apt as new-fall’n snow takes any dint. + +Oh what a war of looks was then between them, +Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing, 356 +His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seen them, +Her eyes woo’d still, his eyes disdain’d the wooing: + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain. + +Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361 +A lily prison’d in a gaol of snow, +Or ivory in an alabaster band, +So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364 + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, + Show’d like two silver doves that sit a-billing. + +Once more the engine of her thoughts began: +“O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368 +Would thou wert as I am, and I a man, +My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound, + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee, + Though nothing but my body’s bane would cure thee.” + +“Give me my hand,” saith he, “why dost thou feel it?” +“Give me my heart,” saith she, “and thou shalt have it. +O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it, +And being steel’d, soft sighs can never grave it. 376 + Then love’s deep groans I never shall regard, + Because Adonis’ heart hath made mine hard.” + +“For shame,” he cries, “let go, and let me go, +My day’s delight is past, my horse is gone, 380 +And ’tis your fault I am bereft him so, +I pray you hence, and leave me here alone, + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care, + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.” 384 + +Thus she replies: “Thy palfrey as he should, +Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire, +Affection is a coal that must be cool’d; +Else, suffer’d, it will set the heart on fire, 388 + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none; + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone. + +“How like a jade he stood tied to the tree, +Servilely master’d with a leathern rein! 392 +But when he saw his love, his youth’s fair fee, +He held such petty bondage in disdain; + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest, + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396 + +“Who sees his true-love in her naked bed, +Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white, +But when his glutton eye so full hath fed, +His other agents aim at like delight? 400 + Who is so faint that dare not be so bold + To touch the fire, the weather being cold? + +“Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy, +And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404 +To take advantage on presented joy, +Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee. + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain, + And once made perfect, never lost again.” 408 + +“I know not love,” quoth he, “nor will not know it, +Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it; +’Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it; +My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412 + For I have heard, it is a life in death, + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath. + +“Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish’d? +Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416 +If springing things be any jot diminish’d, +They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth; + The colt that’s back’d and burden’d being young, + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420 + +“You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part, +And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat: +Remove your siege from my unyielding heart, +To love’s alarms it will not ope the gate: 424 + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flatt’ry; + For where a heart is hard they make no batt’ry.” + +“What! canst thou talk?” quoth she, “hast thou a tongue? +O would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428 +Thy mermaid’s voice hath done me double wrong; +I had my load before, now press’d with bearing: + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding, + Ear’s deep sweet music, and heart’s deep sore wounding. + +“Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433 +That inward beauty and invisible; +Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move +Each part in me that were but sensible: 436 + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, + Yet should I be in love by touching thee. + +“Say that the sense of feeling were bereft me, +And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440 +And nothing but the very smell were left me, +Yet would my love to thee be still as much; + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling + Comes breath perfum’d, that breedeth love by smelling. + +“But oh what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445 +Being nurse and feeder of the other four; +Would they not wish the feast might ever last, +And bid suspicion double-lock the door, + Lest jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest, + Should by his stealing in disturb the feast?” 448 + +Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d, +Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452 +Like a red morn that ever yet betoken’d +Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field, + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds, + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456 + +This ill presage advisedly she marketh: +Even as the wind is hush’d before it raineth, +Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh, +Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460 + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun, + His meaning struck her ere his words begun. + +And at his look she flatly falleth down +For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464 +A smile recures the wounding of a frown; +But blessed bankrout, that by love so thriveth! + The silly boy, believing she is dead, + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red. 468 + +And all amaz’d brake off his late intent, +For sharply he did think to reprehend her, +Which cunning love did wittily prevent: +Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472 + For on the grass she lies as she were slain, + Till his breath breatheth life in her again. + +He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks, +He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476 +He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks +To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr’d: + He kisses her; and she, by her good will, + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480 + +The night of sorrow now is turn’d to day: +Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth, +Like the fair sun when in his fresh array +He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484 + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky, + So is her face illumin’d with her eye. + +Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix’d, +As if from thence they borrow’d all their shine. 488 +Were never four such lamps together mix’d, +Had not his clouded with his brow’s repine; + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492 + +“O where am I?” quoth she, “in earth or heaven? +Or in the ocean drench’d, or in the fire? +What hour is this? or morn or weary even? +Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496 + But now I liv’d, and life was death’s annoy; + But now I died, and death was lively joy. + +“O thou didst kill me; kill me once again: +Thy eyes’ shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500 +Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain, +That they have murder’d this poor heart of mine; + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen, + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504 + +“Long may they kiss each other for this cure! +Oh never let their crimson liveries wear, +And as they last, their verdure still endure, +To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508 + That the star-gazers, having writ on death, + May say, the plague is banish’d by thy breath. + +“Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted, +What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512 +To sell myself I can be well contented, +So thou wilt buy, and pay, and use good dealing; + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips, + Set thy seal manual on my wax-red lips. 516 + +“A thousand kisses buys my heart from me; +And pay them at thy leisure, one by one, +What is ten hundred touches unto thee? +Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520 + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double, + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?” + +“Fair queen,” quoth he, “if any love you owe me, +Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524 +Before I know myself, seek not to know me; +No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears: + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast, + Or being early pluck’d, is sour to taste. 528 + +“Look the world’s comforter, with weary gait +His day’s hot task hath ended in the west; +The owl, night’s herald, shrieks, ’tis very late; +The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532 + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven’s light + Do summon us to part, and bid good night. + +“Now let me say good night, and so say you; +If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.” 536 +“Good night,” quoth she; and ere he says adieu, +The honey fee of parting tender’d is: + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace; + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540 + +Till breathless he disjoin’d, and backward drew +The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth, +Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew, +Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth, 544 + He with her plenty press’d, she faint with dearth, + Their lips together glued, fall to the earth. + +Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey, +And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548 +Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey, +Paying what ransom the insulter willeth; + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high, + That she will draw his lips’ rich treasure dry. 552 + +And having felt the sweetness of the spoil, +With blindfold fury she begins to forage; +Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil, +And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage, 556 + Planting oblivion, beating reason back, + Forgetting shame’s pure blush and honour’s wrack. + +Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing, +Like a wild bird being tam’d with too much handling, +Or as the fleet-foot roe that’s tir’d with chasing, 561 +Or like the froward infant still’d with dandling: + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth, + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564 + +What wax so frozen but dissolves with temp’ring, +And yields at last to every light impression? +Things out of hope are compass’d oft with vent’ring, +Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568 + Affection faints not like a pale-fac’d coward, + But then woos best when most his choice is froward. + +When he did frown, O had she then gave over, +Such nectar from his lips she had not suck’d. 572 +Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover; +What though the rose have prickles, yet ’tis pluck’d. + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast, + Yet love breaks through, and picks them all at last. + +For pity now she can no more detain him; 577 +The poor fool prays her that he may depart: +She is resolv’d no longer to restrain him, +Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580 + The which by Cupid’s bow she doth protest, + He carries thence encaged in his breast. + +“Sweet boy,” she says, “this night I’ll waste in sorrow, +For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584 +Tell me, love’s master, shall we meet tomorrow +Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?” + He tells her no, tomorrow he intends + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588 + +“The boar!” quoth she; whereat a sudden pale, +Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose, +Usurps her cheek, she trembles at his tale, +And on his neck her yoking arms she throws. 592 + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck, + He on her belly falls, she on her back. + +Now is she in the very lists of love, +Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596 +All is imaginary she doth prove, +He will not manage her, although he mount her; + That worse than Tantalus’ is her annoy, + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600 + +Even as poor birds, deceiv’d with painted grapes, +Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw: +Even so she languisheth in her mishaps, +As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604 + The warm effects which she in him finds missing, + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing. + +But all in vain, good queen, it will not be, +She hath assay’d as much as may be prov’d; 608 +Her pleading hath deserv’d a greater fee; +She’s love, she loves, and yet she is not lov’d. + “Fie, fie,” he says, “you crush me; let me go; + You have no reason to withhold me so.” 612 + +“Thou hadst been gone,” quoth she, “sweet boy, ere this, +But that thou told’st me thou wouldst hunt the boar. +Oh be advis’d; thou know’st not what it is, +With javelin’s point a churlish swine to gore, 616 + Whose tushes never sheath’d he whetteth still, + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill. + +“On his bow-back he hath a battle set +Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620 +His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret; +His snout digs sepulchres where’er he goes; + Being mov’d, he strikes whate’er is in his way, + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624 + +“His brawny sides, with hairy bristles armed, +Are better proof than thy spear’s point can enter; +His short thick neck cannot be easily harmed; +Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628 + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes, + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes. + +“Alas! he naught esteems that face of thine, +To which love’s eyes pay tributary gazes; 632 +Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne, +Whose full perfection all the world amazes; + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread! + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead. + +“Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still, 637 +Beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends: +Come not within his danger by thy will; +They that thrive well, take counsel of their friends. + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble, + I fear’d thy fortune, and my joints did tremble. + +“Didst thou not mark my face, was it not white? +Saw’st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644 +Grew I not faint, and fell I not downright? +Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie, + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest, + But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast. + +“For where love reigns, disturbing jealousy 649 +Doth call himself affection’s sentinel; +Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny, +And in a peaceful hour doth cry “Kill, kill!” 652 + Distemp’ring gentle love in his desire, + As air and water do abate the fire. + +“This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy, +This canker that eats up love’s tender spring, 656 +This carry-tale, dissentious jealousy, +That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring, + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear, + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear. 660 + +“And more than so, presenteth to mine eye +The picture of an angry chafing boar, +Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie +An image like thyself, all stain’d with gore; 664 + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed, + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head. + +“What should I do, seeing thee so indeed, +That tremble at th’imagination? 668 +The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed, +And fear doth teach it divination: + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow, + If thou encounter with the boar tomorrow. 672 + +“But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul’d by me; +Uncouple at the timorous flying hare, +Or at the fox which lives by subtilty, +Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676 + Pursue these fearful creatures o’er the downs, + And on thy well-breath’d horse keep with thy hounds. + +“And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare, +Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680 +How he outruns the wind, and with what care +He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles: + The many musits through the which he goes + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684 + +“Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep, +To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell, +And sometime where earth-delving conies keep, +To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688 + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer; + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear. + +“For there his smell with others being mingled, 691 +The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt, +Ceasing their clamorous cry, till they have singled +With much ado the cold fault cleanly out; + Then do they spend their mouths: echo replies, + As if another chase were in the skies. 696 + +“By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, +Stands on his hinder legs with list’ning ear, +To hearken if his foes pursue him still. +Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700 + And now his grief may be compared well + To one sore sick that hears the passing bell. + +“Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch +Turn, and return, indenting with the way, 704 +Each envious briar his weary legs do scratch, +Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay: + For misery is trodden on by many, + And being low never reliev’d by any. 708 + +“Lie quietly, and hear a little more; +Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise: +To make thee hate the hunting of the boar, +Unlike myself thou hear’st me moralize, 712 + Applying this to that, and so to so, + For love can comment upon every woe. + +“Where did I leave?” “No matter where,” quoth he +“Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716 +The night is spent.” “Why, what of that?” quoth she. +“I am,” quoth he, “expected of my friends; + And now ’tis dark, and going I shall fall.” + “In night,” quoth she, “desire sees best of all. 720 + +But if thou fall, oh then imagine this, +The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips, +And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723 +Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn, + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn." + +“Now of this dark night I perceive the reason: +Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728 +Till forging nature be condemn’d of treason, +For stealing moulds from heaven, that were divine; + Wherein she fram’d thee, in high heaven’s despite, + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732 + +“And therefore hath she brib’d the destinies, +To cross the curious workmanship of nature, +To mingle beauty with infirmities, +And pure perfection with impure defeature, 736 + Making it subject to the tyranny + Of mad mischances and much misery. + +“As burning fevers, agues pale and faint, +Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740 +The marrow-eating sickness, whose attaint +Disorder breeds by heating of the blood; + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn’d despair, + Swear nature’s death, for framing thee so fair. 744 + +“And not the least of all these maladies +But in one minute’s fight brings beauty under: +Both favour, savour, hue and qualities, +Whereat th’impartial gazer late did wonder, 748 + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw’d and done, + As mountain snow melts with the midday sun. + +“Therefore despite of fruitless chastity, +Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752 +That on the earth would breed a scarcity +And barren dearth of daughters and of sons, + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756 + +“What is thy body but a swallowing grave, +Seeming to bury that posterity, +Which by the rights of time thou needs must have, +If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760 + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain, + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain. + +“So in thyself thyself art made away; +A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764 +Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay, +Or butcher sire that reeves his son of life. + Foul cank’ring rust the hidden treasure frets, + But gold that’s put to use more gold begets.” 768 + +“Nay then,” quoth Adon, “you will fall again +Into your idle over-handled theme; +The kiss I gave you is bestow’d in vain, +And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772 + For by this black-fac’d night, desire’s foul nurse, + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse. + +“If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues, +And every tongue more moving than your own, 776 +Bewitching like the wanton mermaid’s songs, +Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown; + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear, + And will not let a false sound enter there. 780 + +“Lest the deceiving harmony should run +Into the quiet closure of my breast, +And then my little heart were quite undone, +In his bedchamber to be barr’d of rest. 784 + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan, + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone. + +“What have you urg’d that I cannot reprove? +The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790 +I hate not love, but your device in love +That lends embracements unto every stranger. + You do it for increase: O strange excuse! + When reason is the bawd to lust’s abuse. 792 + +“Call it not love, for love to heaven is fled, +Since sweating lust on earth usurp’d his name; +Under whose simple semblance he hath fed +Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796 + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves, + As caterpillars do the tender leaves. + +“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, +But lust’s effect is tempest after sun; 800 +Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain, +Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done. + Love surfeits not, lust like a glutton dies; + Love is all truth, lust full of forged lies. 804 + +“More I could tell, but more I dare not say; +The text is old, the orator too green. +Therefore, in sadness, now I will away; +My face is full of shame, my heart of teen, 808 + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended + Do burn themselves for having so offended.” + +With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811 +Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast, +And homeward through the dark laund runs apace; +Leaves love upon her back deeply distress’d. + Look how a bright star shooteth from the sky, + So glides he in the night from Venus’ eye. 816 + +Which after him she darts, as one on shore +Gazing upon a late embarked friend, +Till the wild waves will have him seen no more, +Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820 + So did the merciless and pitchy night + Fold in the object that did feed her sight. + +Whereat amaz’d, as one that unaware +Hath dropp’d a precious jewel in the flood, 824 +Or ’stonish’d as night-wanderers often are, +Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood; + Even so confounded in the dark she lay, + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828 + +And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans, +That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled, +Make verbal repetition of her moans; +Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832 + “Ay me!” she cries, and twenty times, “Woe, woe!” + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so. + +She marking them, begins a wailing note, +And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836 +How love makes young men thrall, and old men dote, +How love is wise in folly foolish witty: + Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe, + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840 + +Her song was tedious, and outwore the night, +For lovers’ hours are long, though seeming short, +If pleas’d themselves, others they think, delight +In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844 + Their copious stories oftentimes begun, + End without audience, and are never done. + +For who hath she to spend the night withal, +But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848 +Like shrill-tongu’d tapsters answering every call, +Soothing the humour of fantastic wits? + She says, “’Tis so:” they answer all, “’Tis so;” + And would say after her, if she said “No.” 852 + +Lo here the gentle lark, weary of rest, +From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, +And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast +The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856 + Who doth the world so gloriously behold, + That cedar tops and hills seem burnish’d gold. + +Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow: +“Oh thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860 +From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow +The beauteous influence that makes him bright, + There lives a son that suck’d an earthly mother, + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other.” + +This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865 +Musing the morning is so much o’erworn, +And yet she hears no tidings of her love; +She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn. 868 + Anon she hears them chant it lustily, + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry. + +And as she runs, the bushes in the way +Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872 +Some twine about her thigh to make her stay: +She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace, + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache, + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876 + +By this she hears the hounds are at a bay, +Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder +Wreath’d up in fatal folds just in his way, +The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; 880 + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds. + +For now she knows it is no gentle chase, +But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884 +Because the cry remaineth in one place, +Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud, + Finding their enemy to be so curst, + They all strain court’sy who shall cope him first. 888 + +This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear, +Through which it enters to surprise her heart; +Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear, +With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; 892 + Like soldiers when their captain once doth yield, + They basely fly and dare not stay the field. + +Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy, +Till cheering up her senses sore dismay’d, 896 +She tells them ’tis a causeless fantasy, +And childish error, that they are afraid; + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more: + And with that word, she spied the hunted boar. 900 + +Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red, +Like milk and blood being mingled both together, +A second fear through all her sinews spread, +Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904 + This way she runs, and now she will no further, + But back retires, to rate the boar for murther. + +A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways, +She treads the path that she untreads again; 908 +Her more than haste is mated with delays, +Like the proceedings of a drunken brain, + Full of respects, yet naught at all respecting, + In hand with all things, naught at all effecting. + +Here kennel’d in a brake she finds a hound, 913 +And asks the weary caitiff for his master, +And there another licking of his wound, +’Gainst venom’d sores the only sovereign plaster. 916 + And here she meets another sadly scowling, + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling. + +When he hath ceas’d his ill-resounding noise, +Another flap-mouth’d mourner, black and grim, 920 +Against the welkin volleys out his voice; +Another and another answer him, + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below, + Shaking their scratch’d ears, bleeding as they go. + +Look how the world’s poor people are amazed 925 +At apparitions, signs, and prodigies, +Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed, +Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928 + So she at these sad signs draws up her breath, + And sighing it again, exclaims on death. + +“Hard-favour’d tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931 +Hateful divorce of love,” thus chides she death, +“Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean? +To stifle beauty and to steal his breath, + Who when he liv’d, his breath and beauty set + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet. 936 + +“If he be dead, O no, it cannot be, +Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it, +O yes, it may, thou hast no eyes to see, +But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940 + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart + Mistakes that aim, and cleaves an infant’s heart. + +“Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke, +And hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944 +The destinies will curse thee for this stroke; +They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck’st a flower. + Love’s golden arrow at him should have fled, + And not death’s ebon dart to strike him dead. 948 + +“Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok’st such weeping? +What may a heavy groan advantage thee? +Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping +Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952 + Now nature cares not for thy mortal vigour, + Since her best work is ruin’d with thy rigour.” + +Here overcome, as one full of despair, +She vail’d her eyelids, who like sluices stopp’d 956 +The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair +In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp’d + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain, + And with his strong course opens them again. 960 + +O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow; +Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye; +Both crystals, where they view’d each other’s sorrow, +Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964 + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain, + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again. + +Variable passions throng her constant woe, +As striving who should best become her grief; 968 +All entertain’d, each passion labours so, +That every present sorrow seemeth chief, + But none is best, then join they all together, + Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972 + +By this, far off she hears some huntsman holla; +A nurse’s song ne’er pleas’d her babe so well: +The dire imagination she did follow +This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976 + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice, + And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice. + +Whereat her tears began to turn their tide, +Being prison’d in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980 +Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside, +Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground, + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown’d. + +O hard-believing love, how strange it seems 985 +Not to believe, and yet too credulous; +Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes; +Despair and hope make thee ridiculous, 988 + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely, + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly. + +Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought, +Adonis lives, and death is not to blame; 992 +It was not she that call’d him all to naught; +Now she adds honours to his hateful name. + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings, + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996 + +“No, no,” quoth she, “sweet death, I did but jest; +Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear +Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast, +Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000 + Then, gentle shadow,—truth I must confess— + I rail’d on thee, fearing my love’s decease. + +“’Tis not my fault, the boar provok’d my tongue; +Be wreak’d on him, invisible commander; 1004 +’Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong; +I did but act, he’s author of my slander. + Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet, + Could rule them both, without ten women’s wit.” + +Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009 +Her rash suspect she doth extenuate; +And that his beauty may the better thrive, +With death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012 + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs and stories + His victories, his triumphs and his glories. + +“O love!” quoth she, “how much a fool was I, +To be of such a weak and silly mind, 1016 +To wail his death who lives, and must not die +Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind; + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain, + And beauty dead, black Chaos comes again. 1020 + +“Fie, fie, fond love, thou art as full of fear +As one with treasure laden, hemm’d with thieves, +Trifles unwitnessed with eye or ear, +Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.” 1024 + Even at this word she hears a merry horn, + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn. + +As falcon to the lure, away she flies; +The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light, 1028 +And in her haste unfortunately spies +The foul boar’s conquest on her fair delight; + Which seen, her eyes, as murder’d with the view, + Like stars asham’d of day, themselves withdrew. + +Or as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033 +Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain, +And there all smother’d up, in shade doth sit, +Long after fearing to creep forth again: 1036 + So at his bloody view her eyes are fled + Into the deep dark cabins of her head. + +Where they resign their office and their light +To the disposing of her troubled brain, 1040 +Who bids them still consort with ugly night, +And never wound the heart with looks again; + Who like a king perplexed in his throne, + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan. 1044 + +Whereat each tributary subject quakes, +As when the wind imprison’d in the ground, +Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes, +Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound. + This mutiny each part doth so surprise 1049 + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes. + +And being open’d, threw unwilling light +Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench’d +In his soft flank, whose wonted lily white 1053 +With purple tears that his wound wept, was drench’d. + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf or weed, + But stole his blood and seem’d with him to bleed. + +This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057 +Over one shoulder doth she hang her head, +Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth; +She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060 + Her voice is stopp’d, her joints forget to bow, + Her eyes are mad, that they have wept till now. + +Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly, +That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three; +And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065 +That makes more gashes, where no breach should be: + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled, + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled. + +“My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069 +And yet,” quoth she, “behold two Adons dead! +My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone, +Mine eyes are turn’d to fire, my heart to lead: 1072 + Heavy heart’s lead, melt at mine eyes’ red fire! + So shall I die by drops of hot desire. + +“Alas poor world, what treasure hast thou lost! +What face remains alive that’s worth the viewing? +Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast +Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078 + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim, + But true sweet beauty liv’d and died with him. + +“Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081 +Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you: +Having no fair to lose, you need not fear; +The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you. + But when Adonis liv’d, sun and sharp air 1085 + Lurk’d like two thieves, to rob him of his fair. + +“And therefore would he put his bonnet on, +Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088 +The wind would blow it off, and being gone, +Play with his locks; then would Adonis weep; + And straight, in pity of his tender years, + They both would strive who first should dry his tears. + +“To see his face the lion walk’d along 1093 +Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him; +To recreate himself when he hath sung, +The tiger would be tame and gently hear him. 1096 + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey, + And never fright the silly lamb that day. + +“When he beheld his shadow in the brook, +The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100 +When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, +That some would sing, some other in their bills + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries, + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries. + +“But this foul, grim, and urchin-snouted boar, 1105 +Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave, +Ne’er saw the beauteous livery that he wore; +Witness the entertainment that he gave. 1108 + If he did see his face, why then I know + He thought to kiss him, and hath kill’d him so. + +“’Tis true, ’tis true; thus was Adonis slain: +He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112 +Who did not whet his teeth at him again, +But by a kiss thought to persuade him there; + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine + Sheath’d unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116 + +“Had I been tooth’d like him, I must confess, +With kissing him I should have kill’d him first; +But he is dead, and never did he bless +My youth with his; the more am I accurst.” 1120 + With this she falleth in the place she stood, + And stains her face with his congealed blood. + +She looks upon his lips, and they are pale; +She takes him by the hand, and that is cold, 1124 +She whispers in his ears a heavy tale, +As if they heard the woeful words she told; +She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes, +Where lo, two lamps burnt out in darkness lies. + +Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129 +A thousand times, and now no more reflect; +Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell’d, +And every beauty robb’d of his effect. 1132 + “Wonder of time,” quoth she, “this is my spite, + That thou being dead, the day should yet be light. + +“Since thou art dead, lo here I prophesy, +Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136 +It shall be waited on with jealousy, +Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end; + Ne’er settled equally, but high or low, + That all love’s pleasure shall not match his woe. + +“It shall be fickle, false and full of fraud, 1141 +Bud, and be blasted in a breathing while; +The bottom poison, and the top o’erstraw’d +With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile. 1144 + The strongest body shall it make most weak, + Strike the wise dumb, and teach the fool to speak. + +“It shall be sparing, and too full of riot, +Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148 +The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet, +Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures; + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild, + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152 + +“It shall suspect where is no cause of fear, +It shall not fear where it should most mistrust; +It shall be merciful, and too severe, +And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156 + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward, + Put fear to valour, courage to the coward. + +“It shall be cause of war and dire events, +And set dissension ’twixt the son and sire; 1160 +Subject and servile to all discontents, +As dry combustious matter is to fire, + Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy, + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.” 1164 + +By this the boy that by her side lay kill’d +Was melted like a vapour from her sight, +And in his blood that on the ground lay spill’d, +A purple flower sprung up, chequer’d with white, 1168 + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood. + +She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell, +Comparing it to her Adonis’ breath; 1172 +And says within her bosom it shall dwell, +Since he himself is reft from her by death; + She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears + Green-dropping sap, which she compares to tears. + +“Poor flower,” quoth she, “this was thy father’s guise, +Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire, +For every little grief to wet his eyes, +To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180 + And so ’tis thine; but know, it is as good + To wither in my breast as in his blood. + +“Here was thy father’s bed, here in my breast; +Thou art the next of blood, and ’tis thy right: 1184 +Lo in this hollow cradle take thy rest, +My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night: + There shall not be one minute in an hour + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love’s flower.” + +Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189 +And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid +Their mistress mounted through the empty skies, +In her light chariot quickly is convey’d; 1192 + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen + Means to immure herself and not be seen. + + + FINIS + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1045 *** diff --git a/1045-h/1045-h.htm b/1045-h/1045-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f921056 --- /dev/null +++ b/1045-h/1045-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1906 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Venus and Adonis, by William Shakespeare</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; 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text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1045 ***</div> + +<h1>VENUS AND ADONIS</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by William Shakespeare</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="left"> +<i>Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo<br /> +Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.</i> +</p> + +<h4> +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE<br /> +HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON,<br /> +and Baron of Titchfield. +</h4> + +<p> +Right Honourable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished +lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so +strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if your honour seem but +pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all +idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the +first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble +a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me +still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your +honour to your heart’s content; which I wish may always answer your own +wish and the world’s hopeful expectation. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your honour’s in all duty,<br /> +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. +</p> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>VENUS AND ADONIS</h2> + +<p class="noindent"><br/> +Even as the sun with purple-colour’d face<br/> +Had ta’en his last leave of the weeping morn,<br/> +Rose-cheek’d Adonis hied him to the chase;<br/> +Hunting he lov’d, but love he laugh’d to scorn; 4<br/> + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him,<br/> + And like a bold-fac’d suitor ’gins to woo him.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thrice fairer than myself,” thus she began,<br/> +“The field’s chief flower, sweet above compare, 8<br/> +Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man,<br/> +More white and red than doves or roses are:<br/> + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife,<br/> + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed,<br/> +And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow;<br/> +If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed<br/> +A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16<br/> + Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses,<br/> + And being set, I’ll smother thee with kisses.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And yet not cloy thy lips with loath’d satiety,<br/> +But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20<br/> +Making them red, and pale, with fresh variety:<br/> +Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty:<br/> + A summer’s day will seem an hour but short,<br/> + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.” 24<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +With this she seizeth on his sweating palm,<br/> +The precedent of pith and livelihood,<br/> +And trembling in her passion, calls it balm,<br/> +Earth’s sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28<br/> + Being so enrag’d, desire doth lend her force<br/> + Courageously to pluck him from his horse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Over one arm the lusty courser’s rein,<br/> +Under her other was the tender boy, 32<br/> +Who blush’d and pouted in a dull disdain,<br/> +With leaden appetite, unapt to toy;<br/> + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire,<br/> + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The studded bridle on a ragged bough<br/> +Nimbly she fastens;—O! how quick is love!—<br/> +The steed is stalled up, and even now<br/> +To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40<br/> + Backward she push’d him, as she would be thrust,<br/> + And govern’d him in strength, though not in lust.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So soon was she along, as he was down,<br/> +Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44<br/> +Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown,<br/> +And ’gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips,<br/> + And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken,<br/> + “If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.” 48<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He burns with bashful shame, she with her tears<br/> +Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks;<br/> +Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs<br/> +To fan and blow them dry again she seeks. 52<br/> + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;<br/> + What follows more, she murders with a kiss.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,<br/> +Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56<br/> +Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,<br/> +Till either gorge be stuff’d or prey be gone:<br/> + Even so she kiss’d his brow, his cheek, his chin,<br/> + And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Forc’d to content, but never to obey,<br/> +Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face.<br/> +She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey,<br/> +And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace, 64<br/> + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers<br/> + So they were dew’d with such distilling showers.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how a bird lies tangled in a net,<br/> +So fasten’d in her arms Adonis lies; 68<br/> +Pure shame and aw’d resistance made him fret,<br/> +Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes:<br/> + Rain added to a river that is rank<br/> + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,<br/> +For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale.<br/> +Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets,<br/> +’Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale; 76<br/> + Being red she loves him best, and being white,<br/> + Her best is better’d with a more delight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how he can, she cannot choose but love;<br/> +And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80<br/> +From his soft bosom never to remove,<br/> +Till he take truce with her contending tears,<br/> + Which long have rain’d, making her cheeks all wet;<br/> + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Upon this promise did he raise his chin, 85<br/> +Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,<br/> +Who, being look’d on, ducks as quickly in;<br/> +So offers he to give what she did crave, 88<br/> + But when her lips were ready for his pay,<br/> + He winks, and turns his lips another way.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Never did passenger in summer’s heat<br/> +More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92<br/> +Her help she sees, but help she cannot get;<br/> +She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn:<br/> + “O! pity,” ’gan she cry, “flint-hearted boy,<br/> + ’Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“I have been woo’d as I entreat thee now,<br/> +Even by the stern and direful god of war,<br/> +Whose sinewy neck in battle ne’er did bow,<br/> +Who conquers where he comes in every jar; 100<br/> + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave,<br/> + And begg’d for that which thou unask’d shalt have.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Over my altars hath he hung his lance,<br/> +His batter’d shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104<br/> +And for my sake hath learn’d to sport and dance,<br/> +To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest;<br/> + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red<br/> + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thus he that overrul’d I oversway’d,<br/> +Leading him prisoner in a red rose chain:<br/> +Strong-temper’d steel his stronger strength obey’d,<br/> +Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112<br/> + Oh be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,<br/> + For mast’ring her that foil’d the god of fight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine,<br/> +Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red, 116<br/> +The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:<br/> +What see’st thou in the ground? hold up thy head,<br/> + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies;<br/> + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Art thou asham’d to kiss? then wink again,<br/> +And I will wink; so shall the day seem night.<br/> +Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;<br/> +Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight, 124<br/> + These blue-vein’d violets whereon we lean<br/> + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127<br/> +Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted,<br/> +Make use of time, let not advantage slip;<br/> +Beauty within itself should not be wasted,<br/> + Fair flowers that are not gather’d in their prime<br/> + Rot, and consume themselves in little time. 132<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Were I hard-favour’d, foul, or wrinkled old,<br/> +Ill-nurtur’d, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice,<br/> +O’erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold,<br/> +Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136<br/> + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee;<br/> + But having no defects, why dost abhor me?<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow, 139<br/> +Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning;<br/> +My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow,<br/> +My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning,<br/> + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt,<br/> + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,<br/> +Or like a fairy, trip upon the green,<br/> +Or like a nymph, with long dishevell’d hair,<br/> +Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen. 148<br/> + Love is a spirit all compact of fire,<br/> + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie: 151<br/> +These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me;<br/> +Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky,<br/> +From morn till night, even where I list to sport me.<br/> + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be<br/> + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Is thine own heart to thine own face affected?<br/> +Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?<br/> +Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,<br/> +Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160<br/> + Narcissus so himself himself forsook,<br/> + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Torches are made to light, jewels to wear,<br/> +Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164<br/> +Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear;<br/> +Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse,<br/> + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty;<br/> + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Upon the earth’s increase why shouldst thou feed,<br/> +Unless the earth with thy increase be fed?<br/> +By law of nature thou art bound to breed,<br/> +That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172<br/> + And so in spite of death thou dost survive,<br/> + In that thy likeness still is left alive.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this the love-sick queen began to sweat,<br/> +For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176<br/> +And Titan, tired in the midday heat,<br/> +With burning eye did hotly overlook them,<br/> + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide,<br/> + So he were like him and by Venus’ side. 180<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And now Adonis with a lazy spright,<br/> +And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye,<br/> +His louring brows o’erwhelming his fair sight,<br/> +Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184<br/> + Souring his cheeks, cries, “Fie, no more of love:<br/> + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Ay me,” quoth Venus, “young, and so unkind!<br/> +What bare excuses mak’st thou to be gone! 188<br/> +I’ll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind<br/> +Shall cool the heat of this descending sun:<br/> + I’ll make a shadow for thee of my hairs;<br/> + If they burn too, I’ll quench them with my tears. 192<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm,<br/> +And lo I lie between that sun and thee:<br/> +The heat I have from thence doth little harm,<br/> +Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196<br/> + And were I not immortal, life were done,<br/> + Between this heavenly and earthly sun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel?<br/> +Nay more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200<br/> +Art thou a woman’s son and canst not feel<br/> +What ’tis to love, how want of love tormenteth?<br/> + O had thy mother borne so hard a mind,<br/> + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. 204<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this?<br/> +Or what great danger dwells upon my suit?<br/> +What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss?<br/> +Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: 208<br/> + Give me one kiss, I’ll give it thee again,<br/> + And one for int’rest, if thou wilt have twain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fie, lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone,<br/> +Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212<br/> +Statue contenting but the eye alone,<br/> +Thing like a man, but of no woman bred:<br/> + Thou art no man, though of a man’s complexion,<br/> + For men will kiss even by their own direction.” 216<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue,<br/> +And swelling passion doth provoke a pause;<br/> +Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong;<br/> +Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause. 220<br/> + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak,<br/> + And now her sobs do her intendments break.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand,<br/> +Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224<br/> +Sometimes her arms infold him like a band:<br/> +She would, he will not in her arms be bound;<br/> + And when from thence he struggles to be gone,<br/> + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fondling,” she saith, “since I have hemm’d thee here<br/> +Within the circuit of this ivory pale,<br/> +I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer;<br/> +Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232<br/> + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry,<br/> + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Within this limit is relief enough,<br/> +Sweet bottom grass and high delightful plain, 236<br/> +Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough,<br/> +To shelter thee from tempest and from rain:<br/> + Then be my deer, since I am such a park, 239<br/> + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +At this Adonis smiles as in disdain,<br/> +That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple;<br/> +Love made those hollows, if himself were slain,<br/> +He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244<br/> + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie,<br/> + Why there love liv’d, and there he could not die.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits,<br/> +Open’d their mouths to swallow Venus’ liking. 248<br/> +Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?<br/> +Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking?<br/> + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn,<br/> + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say?<br/> +Her words are done, her woes the more increasing;<br/> +The time is spent, her object will away,<br/> +And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256<br/> + “Pity,” she cries; “some favour, some remorse!”<br/> + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But lo from forth a copse that neighbours by,<br/> +A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260<br/> +Adonis’ tramping courser doth espy,<br/> +And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud:<br/> + The strong-neck’d steed, being tied unto a tree,<br/> + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds,<br/> +And now his woven girths he breaks asunder;<br/> +The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds,<br/> +Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven’s thunder;<br/> + The iron bit he crusheth ’tween his teeth, 269<br/> + Controlling what he was controlled with.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +His ears up-prick’d; his braided hanging mane<br/> +Upon his compass’d crest now stand on end; 272<br/> +His nostrils drink the air, and forth again,<br/> +As from a furnace, vapours doth he send:<br/> + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire,<br/> + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps,<br/> +With gentle majesty and modest pride;<br/> +Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps,<br/> +As who should say, “Lo thus my strength is tried;<br/> + And this I do to captivate the eye 281<br/> + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +What recketh he his rider’s angry stir,<br/> +His flattering “Holla”, or his “Stand, I say”? 284<br/> +What cares he now for curb or pricking spur?<br/> +For rich caparisons or trappings gay?<br/> + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees,<br/> + For nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look when a painter would surpass the life,<br/> +In limning out a well-proportion’d steed,<br/> +His art with nature’s workmanship at strife,<br/> +As if the dead the living should exceed: 292<br/> + So did this horse excel a common one,<br/> + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Round-hoof’d, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long,<br/> +Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide,<br/> +High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong,<br/> +Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide:<br/> + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack,<br/> + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares;<br/> +Anon he starts at stirring of a feather:<br/> +To bid the wind a base he now prepares,<br/> +And where he run or fly they know not whether; 304<br/> + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings,<br/> + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather’d wings.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her;<br/> +She answers him as if she knew his mind, 308<br/> +Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her,<br/> +She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind,<br/> + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels,<br/> + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then like a melancholy malcontent,<br/> +He vails his tail that like a falling plume,<br/> +Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent:<br/> +He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316<br/> + His love, perceiving how he was enrag’d,<br/> + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag’d.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +His testy master goeth about to take him,<br/> +When lo the unback’d breeder, full of fear, 320<br/> +Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,<br/> +With her the horse, and left Adonis there:<br/> + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them,<br/> + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits,<br/> +Banning his boisterous and unruly beast;<br/> +And now the happy season once more fits<br/> +That love-sick love by pleading may be blest; 328<br/> + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong,<br/> + When it is barr’d the aidance of the tongue.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +An oven that is stopp’d, or river stay’d,<br/> +Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332<br/> +So of concealed sorrow may be said,<br/> +Free vent of words love’s fire doth assuage;<br/> + But when the heart’s attorney once is mute,<br/> + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He sees her coming, and begins to glow,<br/> +Even as a dying coal revives with wind,<br/> +And with his bonnet hides his angry brow,<br/> +Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340<br/> + Taking no notice that she is so nigh,<br/> + For all askance he holds her in his eye.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O what a sight it was, wistly to view<br/> +How she came stealing to the wayward boy, 344<br/> +To note the fighting conflict of her hue,<br/> +How white and red each other did destroy:<br/> + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by<br/> + It flash’d forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now was she just before him as he sat,<br/> +And like a lowly lover down she kneels;<br/> +With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat,<br/> +Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352<br/> + His tend’rer cheek receives her soft hand’s print,<br/> + As apt as new-fall’n snow takes any dint.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Oh what a war of looks was then between them,<br/> +Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing, 356<br/> +His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seen them,<br/> +Her eyes woo’d still, his eyes disdain’d the wooing:<br/> + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain<br/> + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361<br/> +A lily prison’d in a gaol of snow,<br/> +Or ivory in an alabaster band,<br/> +So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364<br/> + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling,<br/> + Show’d like two silver doves that sit a-billing.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Once more the engine of her thoughts began:<br/> +“O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368<br/> +Would thou wert as I am, and I a man,<br/> +My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound,<br/> + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee,<br/> + Though nothing but my body’s bane would cure thee.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Give me my hand,” saith he, “why dost thou feel it?”<br/> +“Give me my heart,” saith she, “and thou shalt have it.<br/> +O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it,<br/> +And being steel’d, soft sighs can never grave it. 376<br/> + Then love’s deep groans I never shall regard,<br/> + Because Adonis’ heart hath made mine hard.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For shame,” he cries, “let go, and let me go,<br/> +My day’s delight is past, my horse is gone, 380<br/> +And ’tis your fault I am bereft him so,<br/> +I pray you hence, and leave me here alone,<br/> + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care,<br/> + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.” 384<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus she replies: “Thy palfrey as he should,<br/> +Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire,<br/> +Affection is a coal that must be cool’d;<br/> +Else, suffer’d, it will set the heart on fire, 388<br/> + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none;<br/> + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“How like a jade he stood tied to the tree,<br/> +Servilely master’d with a leathern rein! 392<br/> +But when he saw his love, his youth’s fair fee,<br/> +He held such petty bondage in disdain;<br/> + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest,<br/> + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Who sees his true-love in her naked bed,<br/> +Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white,<br/> +But when his glutton eye so full hath fed,<br/> +His other agents aim at like delight? 400<br/> + Who is so faint that dare not be so bold<br/> + To touch the fire, the weather being cold?<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy,<br/> +And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404<br/> +To take advantage on presented joy,<br/> +Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee.<br/> + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain,<br/> + And once made perfect, never lost again.” 408<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“I know not love,” quoth he, “nor will not know it,<br/> +Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it;<br/> +’Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it;<br/> +My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412<br/> + For I have heard, it is a life in death,<br/> + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish’d?<br/> +Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416<br/> +If springing things be any jot diminish’d,<br/> +They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth;<br/> + The colt that’s back’d and burden’d being young,<br/> + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part,<br/> +And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat:<br/> +Remove your siege from my unyielding heart,<br/> +To love’s alarms it will not ope the gate: 424<br/> + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flatt’ry;<br/> + For where a heart is hard they make no batt’ry.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What! canst thou talk?” quoth she, “hast thou a tongue?<br/> +O would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428<br/> +Thy mermaid’s voice hath done me double wrong;<br/> +I had my load before, now press’d with bearing:<br/> + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding,<br/> + Ear’s deep sweet music, and heart’s deep sore wounding.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433<br/> +That inward beauty and invisible;<br/> +Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move<br/> +Each part in me that were but sensible: 436<br/> + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see,<br/> + Yet should I be in love by touching thee.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Say that the sense of feeling were bereft me,<br/> +And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440<br/> +And nothing but the very smell were left me,<br/> +Yet would my love to thee be still as much;<br/> + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling<br/> + Comes breath perfum’d, that breedeth love by smelling.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But oh what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445<br/> +Being nurse and feeder of the other four;<br/> +Would they not wish the feast might ever last,<br/> +And bid suspicion double-lock the door,<br/> + Lest jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest,<br/> + Should by his stealing in disturb the feast?” 448<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d,<br/> +Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452<br/> +Like a red morn that ever yet betoken’d<br/> +Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field,<br/> + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds,<br/> + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This ill presage advisedly she marketh:<br/> +Even as the wind is hush’d before it raineth,<br/> +Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh,<br/> +Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460<br/> + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun,<br/> + His meaning struck her ere his words begun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And at his look she flatly falleth down<br/> +For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464<br/> +A smile recures the wounding of a frown;<br/> +But blessed bankrout, that by love so thriveth!<br/> + The silly boy, believing she is dead,<br/> + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red. 468<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And all amaz’d brake off his late intent,<br/> +For sharply he did think to reprehend her,<br/> +Which cunning love did wittily prevent:<br/> +Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472<br/> + For on the grass she lies as she were slain,<br/> + Till his breath breatheth life in her again.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks,<br/> +He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476<br/> +He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks<br/> +To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr’d:<br/> + He kisses her; and she, by her good will,<br/> + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The night of sorrow now is turn’d to day:<br/> +Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth,<br/> +Like the fair sun when in his fresh array<br/> +He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484<br/> + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky,<br/> + So is her face illumin’d with her eye.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix’d,<br/> +As if from thence they borrow’d all their shine. 488<br/> +Were never four such lamps together mix’d,<br/> +Had not his clouded with his brow’s repine;<br/> + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light<br/> + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O where am I?” quoth she, “in earth or heaven?<br/> +Or in the ocean drench’d, or in the fire?<br/> +What hour is this? or morn or weary even?<br/> +Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496<br/> + But now I liv’d, and life was death’s annoy;<br/> + But now I died, and death was lively joy.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O thou didst kill me; kill me once again:<br/> +Thy eyes’ shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500<br/> +Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain,<br/> +That they have murder’d this poor heart of mine;<br/> + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen,<br/> + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Long may they kiss each other for this cure!<br/> +Oh never let their crimson liveries wear,<br/> +And as they last, their verdure still endure,<br/> +To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508<br/> + That the star-gazers, having writ on death,<br/> + May say, the plague is banish’d by thy breath.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted,<br/> +What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512<br/> +To sell myself I can be well contented,<br/> +So thou wilt buy, and pay, and use good dealing;<br/> + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips,<br/> + Set thy seal manual on my wax-red lips. 516<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“A thousand kisses buys my heart from me;<br/> +And pay them at thy leisure, one by one,<br/> +What is ten hundred touches unto thee?<br/> +Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520<br/> + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double,<br/> + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fair queen,” quoth he, “if any love you owe me,<br/> +Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524<br/> +Before I know myself, seek not to know me;<br/> +No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears:<br/> + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast,<br/> + Or being early pluck’d, is sour to taste. 528<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Look the world’s comforter, with weary gait<br/> +His day’s hot task hath ended in the west;<br/> +The owl, night’s herald, shrieks, ’tis very late;<br/> +The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532<br/> + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven’s light<br/> + Do summon us to part, and bid good night.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Now let me say good night, and so say you;<br/> +If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.” 536<br/> +“Good night,” quoth she; and ere he says adieu,<br/> +The honey fee of parting tender’d is:<br/> + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace;<br/> + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Till breathless he disjoin’d, and backward drew<br/> +The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth,<br/> +Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew,<br/> +Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth, 544<br/> + He with her plenty press’d, she faint with dearth,<br/> + Their lips together glued, fall to the earth.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey,<br/> +And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548<br/> +Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey,<br/> +Paying what ransom the insulter willeth;<br/> + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high,<br/> + That she will draw his lips’ rich treasure dry. 552<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And having felt the sweetness of the spoil,<br/> +With blindfold fury she begins to forage;<br/> +Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil,<br/> +And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage, 556<br/> + Planting oblivion, beating reason back,<br/> + Forgetting shame’s pure blush and honour’s wrack.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing,<br/> +Like a wild bird being tam’d with too much handling,<br/> +Or as the fleet-foot roe that’s tir’d with chasing, 561<br/> +Or like the froward infant still’d with dandling:<br/> + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth,<br/> + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +What wax so frozen but dissolves with temp’ring,<br/> +And yields at last to every light impression?<br/> +Things out of hope are compass’d oft with vent’ring,<br/> +Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568<br/> + Affection faints not like a pale-fac’d coward,<br/> + But then woos best when most his choice is froward.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he did frown, O had she then gave over,<br/> +Such nectar from his lips she had not suck’d. 572<br/> +Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover;<br/> +What though the rose have prickles, yet ’tis pluck’d.<br/> + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast,<br/> + Yet love breaks through, and picks them all at last.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For pity now she can no more detain him; 577<br/> +The poor fool prays her that he may depart:<br/> +She is resolv’d no longer to restrain him,<br/> +Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580<br/> + The which by Cupid’s bow she doth protest,<br/> + He carries thence encaged in his breast.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Sweet boy,” she says, “this night I’ll waste in sorrow,<br/> +For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584<br/> +Tell me, love’s master, shall we meet tomorrow<br/> +Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?”<br/> + He tells her no, tomorrow he intends<br/> + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The boar!” quoth she; whereat a sudden pale,<br/> +Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose,<br/> +Usurps her cheek, she trembles at his tale,<br/> +And on his neck her yoking arms she throws. 592<br/> + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck,<br/> + He on her belly falls, she on her back.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now is she in the very lists of love,<br/> +Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596<br/> +All is imaginary she doth prove,<br/> +He will not manage her, although he mount her;<br/> + That worse than Tantalus’ is her annoy,<br/> + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Even as poor birds, deceiv’d with painted grapes,<br/> +Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw:<br/> +Even so she languisheth in her mishaps,<br/> +As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604<br/> + The warm effects which she in him finds missing,<br/> + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But all in vain, good queen, it will not be,<br/> +She hath assay’d as much as may be prov’d; 608<br/> +Her pleading hath deserv’d a greater fee;<br/> +She’s love, she loves, and yet she is not lov’d.<br/> + “Fie, fie,” he says, “you crush me; let me go;<br/> + You have no reason to withhold me so.” 612<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thou hadst been gone,” quoth she, “sweet boy, ere this,<br/> +But that thou told’st me thou wouldst hunt the boar.<br/> +Oh be advis’d; thou know’st not what it is,<br/> +With javelin’s point a churlish swine to gore, 616<br/> + Whose tushes never sheath’d he whetteth still,<br/> + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“On his bow-back he hath a battle set<br/> +Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620<br/> +His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret;<br/> +His snout digs sepulchres where’er he goes;<br/> + Being mov’d, he strikes whate’er is in his way,<br/> + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“His brawny sides, with hairy bristles armed,<br/> +Are better proof than thy spear’s point can enter;<br/> +His short thick neck cannot be easily harmed;<br/> +Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628<br/> + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes,<br/> + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Alas! he naught esteems that face of thine,<br/> +To which love’s eyes pay tributary gazes; 632<br/> +Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne,<br/> +Whose full perfection all the world amazes;<br/> + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread!<br/> + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still, 637<br/> +Beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends:<br/> +Come not within his danger by thy will;<br/> +They that thrive well, take counsel of their friends.<br/> + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble,<br/> + I fear’d thy fortune, and my joints did tremble.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Didst thou not mark my face, was it not white?<br/> +Saw’st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644<br/> +Grew I not faint, and fell I not downright?<br/> +Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie,<br/> + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest,<br/> + But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For where love reigns, disturbing jealousy 649<br/> +Doth call himself affection’s sentinel;<br/> +Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny,<br/> +And in a peaceful hour doth cry “Kill, kill!” 652<br/> + Distemp’ring gentle love in his desire,<br/> + As air and water do abate the fire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy,<br/> +This canker that eats up love’s tender spring, 656<br/> +This carry-tale, dissentious jealousy,<br/> +That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring,<br/> + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear,<br/> + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear. 660<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And more than so, presenteth to mine eye<br/> +The picture of an angry chafing boar,<br/> +Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie<br/> +An image like thyself, all stain’d with gore; 664<br/> + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed,<br/> + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What should I do, seeing thee so indeed,<br/> +That tremble at th’imagination? 668<br/> +The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed,<br/> +And fear doth teach it divination:<br/> + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow,<br/> + If thou encounter with the boar tomorrow. 672<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul’d by me;<br/> +Uncouple at the timorous flying hare,<br/> +Or at the fox which lives by subtilty,<br/> +Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676<br/> + Pursue these fearful creatures o’er the downs,<br/> + And on thy well-breath’d horse keep with thy hounds.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare,<br/> +Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680<br/> +How he outruns the wind, and with what care<br/> +He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles:<br/> + The many musits through the which he goes<br/> + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep,<br/> +To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell,<br/> +And sometime where earth-delving conies keep,<br/> +To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688<br/> + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer;<br/> + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For there his smell with others being mingled, 691<br/> +The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt,<br/> +Ceasing their clamorous cry, till they have singled<br/> +With much ado the cold fault cleanly out;<br/> + Then do they spend their mouths: echo replies,<br/> + As if another chase were in the skies. 696<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill,<br/> +Stands on his hinder legs with list’ning ear,<br/> +To hearken if his foes pursue him still.<br/> +Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700<br/> + And now his grief may be compared well<br/> + To one sore sick that hears the passing bell.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch<br/> +Turn, and return, indenting with the way, 704<br/> +Each envious briar his weary legs do scratch,<br/> +Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay:<br/> + For misery is trodden on by many,<br/> + And being low never reliev’d by any. 708<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Lie quietly, and hear a little more;<br/> +Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise:<br/> +To make thee hate the hunting of the boar,<br/> +Unlike myself thou hear’st me moralize, 712<br/> + Applying this to that, and so to so,<br/> + For love can comment upon every woe.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Where did I leave?” “No matter where,” quoth he<br/> +“Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716<br/> +The night is spent.” “Why, what of that?” quoth she.<br/> +“I am,” quoth he, “expected of my friends;<br/> + And now ’tis dark, and going I shall fall.”<br/> + “In night,” quoth she, “desire sees best of all.” 720<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But if thou fall, oh then imagine this,<br/> +The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips,<br/> +And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723<br/> +Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips<br/> + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn,<br/> + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Now of this dark night I perceive the reason:<br/> +Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728<br/> +Till forging nature be condemn’d of treason,<br/> +For stealing moulds from heaven, that were divine;<br/> + Wherein she fram’d thee, in high heaven’s despite,<br/> + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And therefore hath she brib’d the destinies,<br/> +To cross the curious workmanship of nature,<br/> +To mingle beauty with infirmities,<br/> +And pure perfection with impure defeature, 736<br/> + Making it subject to the tyranny<br/> + Of mad mischances and much misery.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“As burning fevers, agues pale and faint,<br/> +Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740<br/> +The marrow-eating sickness, whose attaint<br/> +Disorder breeds by heating of the blood;<br/> + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn’d despair,<br/> + Swear nature’s death, for framing thee so fair. 744<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And not the least of all these maladies<br/> +But in one minute’s fight brings beauty under:<br/> +Both favour, savour, hue and qualities,<br/> +Whereat th’impartial gazer late did wonder, 748<br/> + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw’d and done,<br/> + As mountain snow melts with the midday sun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Therefore despite of fruitless chastity,<br/> +Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752<br/> +That on the earth would breed a scarcity<br/> +And barren dearth of daughters and of sons,<br/> + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night<br/> + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What is thy body but a swallowing grave,<br/> +Seeming to bury that posterity,<br/> +Which by the rights of time thou needs must have,<br/> +If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760<br/> + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain,<br/> + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“So in thyself thyself art made away;<br/> +A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764<br/> +Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay,<br/> +Or butcher sire that reeves his son of life.<br/> + Foul cank’ring rust the hidden treasure frets,<br/> + But gold that’s put to use more gold begets.” 768<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Nay then,” quoth Adon, “you will fall again<br/> +Into your idle over-handled theme;<br/> +The kiss I gave you is bestow’d in vain,<br/> +And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772<br/> + For by this black-fac’d night, desire’s foul nurse,<br/> + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues,<br/> +And every tongue more moving than your own, 776<br/> +Bewitching like the wanton mermaid’s songs,<br/> +Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown;<br/> + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear,<br/> + And will not let a false sound enter there. 780<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Lest the deceiving harmony should run<br/> +Into the quiet closure of my breast,<br/> +And then my little heart were quite undone,<br/> +In his bedchamber to be barr’d of rest. 784<br/> + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan,<br/> + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What have you urg’d that I cannot reprove?<br/> +The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790<br/> +I hate not love, but your device in love<br/> +That lends embracements unto every stranger.<br/> + You do it for increase: O strange excuse!<br/> + When reason is the bawd to lust’s abuse. 792<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Call it not love, for love to heaven is fled,<br/> +Since sweating lust on earth usurp’d his name;<br/> +Under whose simple semblance he hath fed<br/> +Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796<br/> + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves,<br/> + As caterpillars do the tender leaves.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain,<br/> +But lust’s effect is tempest after sun; 800<br/> +Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain,<br/> +Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done.<br/> + Love surfeits not, lust like a glutton dies;<br/> + Love is all truth, lust full of forged lies. 804<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“More I could tell, but more I dare not say;<br/> +The text is old, the orator too green.<br/> +Therefore, in sadness, now I will away;<br/> +My face is full of shame, my heart of teen, 808<br/> + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended<br/> + Do burn themselves for having so offended.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811<br/> +Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast,<br/> +And homeward through the dark laund runs apace;<br/> +Leaves love upon her back deeply distress’d.<br/> + Look how a bright star shooteth from the sky,<br/> + So glides he in the night from Venus’ eye. 816<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Which after him she darts, as one on shore<br/> +Gazing upon a late embarked friend,<br/> +Till the wild waves will have him seen no more,<br/> +Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820<br/> + So did the merciless and pitchy night<br/> + Fold in the object that did feed her sight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat amaz’d, as one that unaware<br/> +Hath dropp’d a precious jewel in the flood, 824<br/> +Or ’stonish’d as night-wanderers often are,<br/> +Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood;<br/> + Even so confounded in the dark she lay,<br/> + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans,<br/> +That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled,<br/> +Make verbal repetition of her moans;<br/> +Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832<br/> + “Ay me!” she cries, and twenty times, “Woe, woe!”<br/> + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She marking them, begins a wailing note,<br/> +And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836<br/> +How love makes young men thrall, and old men dote,<br/> +How love is wise in folly foolish witty:<br/> + Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe,<br/> + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Her song was tedious, and outwore the night,<br/> +For lovers’ hours are long, though seeming short,<br/> +If pleas’d themselves, others they think, delight<br/> +In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844<br/> + Their copious stories oftentimes begun,<br/> + End without audience, and are never done.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For who hath she to spend the night withal,<br/> +But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848<br/> +Like shrill-tongu’d tapsters answering every call,<br/> +Soothing the humour of fantastic wits?<br/> + She says, “’Tis so:” they answer all, “’Tis so;”<br/> + And would say after her, if she said “No.” 852<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Lo here the gentle lark, weary of rest,<br/> +From his moist cabinet mounts up on high,<br/> +And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast<br/> +The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856<br/> + Who doth the world so gloriously behold,<br/> + That cedar tops and hills seem burnish’d gold.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow:<br/> +“Oh thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860<br/> +From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow<br/> +The beauteous influence that makes him bright,<br/> + There lives a son that suck’d an earthly mother,<br/> + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865<br/> +Musing the morning is so much o’erworn,<br/> +And yet she hears no tidings of her love;<br/> +She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn. 868<br/> + Anon she hears them chant it lustily,<br/> + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as she runs, the bushes in the way<br/> +Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872<br/> +Some twine about her thigh to make her stay:<br/> +She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace,<br/> + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache,<br/> + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this she hears the hounds are at a bay,<br/> +Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder<br/> +Wreath’d up in fatal folds just in his way,<br/> +The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; 880<br/> + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds<br/> + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For now she knows it is no gentle chase,<br/> +But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884<br/> +Because the cry remaineth in one place,<br/> +Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud,<br/> + Finding their enemy to be so curst,<br/> + They all strain court’sy who shall cope him first. 888<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear,<br/> +Through which it enters to surprise her heart;<br/> +Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear,<br/> +With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; 892<br/> + Like soldiers when their captain once doth yield,<br/> + They basely fly and dare not stay the field.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy,<br/> +Till cheering up her senses sore dismay’d, 896<br/> +She tells them ’tis a causeless fantasy,<br/> +And childish error, that they are afraid;<br/> + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more:<br/> + And with that word, she spied the hunted boar. 900<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red,<br/> +Like milk and blood being mingled both together,<br/> +A second fear through all her sinews spread,<br/> +Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904<br/> + This way she runs, and now she will no further,<br/> + But back retires, to rate the boar for murther.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways,<br/> +She treads the path that she untreads again; 908<br/> +Her more than haste is mated with delays,<br/> +Like the proceedings of a drunken brain,<br/> + Full of respects, yet naught at all respecting,<br/> + In hand with all things, naught at all effecting.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Here kennel’d in a brake she finds a hound, 913<br/> +And asks the weary caitiff for his master,<br/> +And there another licking of his wound,<br/> +’Gainst venom’d sores the only sovereign plaster. 916<br/> + And here she meets another sadly scowling,<br/> + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he hath ceas’d his ill-resounding noise,<br/> +Another flap-mouth’d mourner, black and grim, 920<br/> +Against the welkin volleys out his voice;<br/> +Another and another answer him,<br/> + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below,<br/> + Shaking their scratch’d ears, bleeding as they go.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how the world’s poor people are amazed 925<br/> +At apparitions, signs, and prodigies,<br/> +Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed,<br/> +Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928<br/> + So she at these sad signs draws up her breath,<br/> + And sighing it again, exclaims on death.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Hard-favour’d tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931<br/> +Hateful divorce of love,” thus chides she death,<br/> +“Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean?<br/> +To stifle beauty and to steal his breath,<br/> + Who when he liv’d, his breath and beauty set<br/> + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet. 936<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“If he be dead, O no, it cannot be,<br/> +Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it,<br/> +O yes, it may, thou hast no eyes to see,<br/> +But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940<br/> + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart<br/> + Mistakes that aim, and cleaves an infant’s heart.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke,<br/> +And hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944<br/> +The destinies will curse thee for this stroke;<br/> +They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck’st a flower.<br/> + Love’s golden arrow at him should have fled,<br/> + And not death’s ebon dart to strike him dead. 948<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok’st such weeping?<br/> +What may a heavy groan advantage thee?<br/> +Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping<br/> +Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952<br/> + Now nature cares not for thy mortal vigour,<br/> + Since her best work is ruin’d with thy rigour.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Here overcome, as one full of despair,<br/> +She vail’d her eyelids, who like sluices stopp’d 956<br/> +The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair<br/> +In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp’d<br/> + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain,<br/> + And with his strong course opens them again. 960<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow;<br/> +Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye;<br/> +Both crystals, where they view’d each other’s sorrow,<br/> +Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964<br/> + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain,<br/> + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Variable passions throng her constant woe,<br/> +As striving who should best become her grief; 968<br/> +All entertain’d, each passion labours so,<br/> +That every present sorrow seemeth chief,<br/> + But none is best, then join they all together,<br/> + Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this, far off she hears some huntsman holla;<br/> +A nurse’s song ne’er pleas’d her babe so well:<br/> +The dire imagination she did follow<br/> +This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976<br/> + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice,<br/> + And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat her tears began to turn their tide,<br/> +Being prison’d in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980<br/> +Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside,<br/> +Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass<br/> + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground,<br/> + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown’d.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O hard-believing love, how strange it seems 985<br/> +Not to believe, and yet too credulous;<br/> +Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes;<br/> +Despair and hope make thee ridiculous, 988<br/> + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely,<br/> + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought,<br/> +Adonis lives, and death is not to blame; 992<br/> +It was not she that call’d him all to naught;<br/> +Now she adds honours to his hateful name.<br/> + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings,<br/> + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“No, no,” quoth she, “sweet death, I did but jest;<br/> +Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear<br/> +Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast,<br/> +Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000<br/> + Then, gentle shadow,—truth I must confess—<br/> + I rail’d on thee, fearing my love’s decease.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“’Tis not my fault, the boar provok’d my tongue;<br/> +Be wreak’d on him, invisible commander; 1004<br/> +’Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong;<br/> +I did but act, he’s author of my slander.<br/> + Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet,<br/> + Could rule them both, without ten women’s wit.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009<br/> +Her rash suspect she doth extenuate;<br/> +And that his beauty may the better thrive,<br/> +With death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012<br/> + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs and stories<br/> + His victories, his triumphs and his glories.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O love!” quoth she, “how much a fool was I,<br/> +To be of such a weak and silly mind, 1016<br/> +To wail his death who lives, and must not die<br/> +Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind;<br/> + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain,<br/> + And beauty dead, black Chaos comes again. 1020<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fie, fie, fond love, thou art as full of fear<br/> +As one with treasure laden, hemm’d with thieves,<br/> +Trifles unwitnessed with eye or ear,<br/> +Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.” 1024<br/> + Even at this word she hears a merry horn,<br/> + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +As falcon to the lure, away she flies;<br/> +The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light, 1028<br/> +And in her haste unfortunately spies<br/> +The foul boar’s conquest on her fair delight;<br/> + Which seen, her eyes, as murder’d with the view,<br/> + Like stars asham’d of day, themselves withdrew.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Or as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033<br/> +Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain,<br/> +And there all smother’d up, in shade doth sit,<br/> +Long after fearing to creep forth again: 1036<br/> + So at his bloody view her eyes are fled<br/> + Into the deep dark cabins of her head.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Where they resign their office and their light<br/> +To the disposing of her troubled brain, 1040<br/> +Who bids them still consort with ugly night,<br/> +And never wound the heart with looks again;<br/> + Who like a king perplexed in his throne,<br/> + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan. 1044<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat each tributary subject quakes,<br/> +As when the wind imprison’d in the ground,<br/> +Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes,<br/> +Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound.<br/> + This mutiny each part doth so surprise 1049<br/> + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And being open’d, threw unwilling light<br/> +Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench’d<br/> +In his soft flank, whose wonted lily white 1053<br/> +With purple tears that his wound wept, was drench’d.<br/> + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf or weed,<br/> + But stole his blood and seem’d with him to bleed.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057<br/> +Over one shoulder doth she hang her head,<br/> +Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth;<br/> +She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060<br/> + Her voice is stopp’d, her joints forget to bow,<br/> + Her eyes are mad, that they have wept till now.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly,<br/> +That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three;<br/> +And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065<br/> +That makes more gashes, where no breach should be:<br/> + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled,<br/> + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069<br/> +And yet,” quoth she, “behold two Adons dead!<br/> +My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone,<br/> +Mine eyes are turn’d to fire, my heart to lead: 1072<br/> + Heavy heart’s lead, melt at mine eyes’ red fire!<br/> + So shall I die by drops of hot desire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Alas poor world, what treasure hast thou lost!<br/> +What face remains alive that’s worth the viewing?<br/> +Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast<br/> +Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078<br/> + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim,<br/> + But true sweet beauty liv’d and died with him.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081<br/> +Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you:<br/> +Having no fair to lose, you need not fear;<br/> +The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you.<br/> + But when Adonis liv’d, sun and sharp air 1085<br/> + Lurk’d like two thieves, to rob him of his fair.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And therefore would he put his bonnet on,<br/> +Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088<br/> +The wind would blow it off, and being gone,<br/> +Play with his locks; then would Adonis weep;<br/> + And straight, in pity of his tender years,<br/> + They both would strive who first should dry his tears.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“To see his face the lion walk’d along 1093<br/> +Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him;<br/> +To recreate himself when he hath sung,<br/> +The tiger would be tame and gently hear him. 1096<br/> + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey,<br/> + And never fright the silly lamb that day.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“When he beheld his shadow in the brook,<br/> +The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100<br/> +When he was by, the birds such pleasure took,<br/> +That some would sing, some other in their bills<br/> + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries,<br/> + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But this foul, grim, and urchin-snouted boar, 1105<br/> +Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave,<br/> +Ne’er saw the beauteous livery that he wore;<br/> +Witness the entertainment that he gave. 1108<br/> + If he did see his face, why then I know<br/> + He thought to kiss him, and hath kill’d him so.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“’Tis true, ’tis true; thus was Adonis slain:<br/> +He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112<br/> +Who did not whet his teeth at him again,<br/> +But by a kiss thought to persuade him there;<br/> + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine<br/> + Sheath’d unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Had I been tooth’d like him, I must confess,<br/> +With kissing him I should have kill’d him first;<br/> +But he is dead, and never did he bless<br/> +My youth with his; the more am I accurst.” 1120<br/> + With this she falleth in the place she stood,<br/> + And stains her face with his congealed blood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She looks upon his lips, and they are pale;<br/> +She takes him by the hand, and that is cold, 1124<br/> +She whispers in his ears a heavy tale,<br/> +As if they heard the woeful words she told;<br/> +She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes,<br/> +Where lo, two lamps burnt out in darkness lies.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129<br/> +A thousand times, and now no more reflect;<br/> +Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell’d,<br/> +And every beauty robb’d of his effect. 1132<br/> + “Wonder of time,” quoth she, “this is my spite,<br/> + That thou being dead, the day should yet be light.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Since thou art dead, lo here I prophesy,<br/> +Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136<br/> +It shall be waited on with jealousy,<br/> +Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end;<br/> + Ne’er settled equally, but high or low,<br/> + That all love’s pleasure shall not match his woe.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be fickle, false and full of fraud, 1141<br/> +Bud, and be blasted in a breathing while;<br/> +The bottom poison, and the top o’erstraw’d<br/> +With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile. 1144<br/> + The strongest body shall it make most weak,<br/> + Strike the wise dumb, and teach the fool to speak.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be sparing, and too full of riot,<br/> +Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148<br/> +The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet,<br/> +Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures;<br/> + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild,<br/> + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall suspect where is no cause of fear,<br/> +It shall not fear where it should most mistrust;<br/> +It shall be merciful, and too severe,<br/> +And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156<br/> + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward,<br/> + Put fear to valour, courage to the coward.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be cause of war and dire events,<br/> +And set dissension ’twixt the son and sire; 1160<br/> +Subject and servile to all discontents,<br/> +As dry combustious matter is to fire,<br/> + Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy,<br/> + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.” 1164<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this the boy that by her side lay kill’d<br/> +Was melted like a vapour from her sight,<br/> +And in his blood that on the ground lay spill’d,<br/> +A purple flower sprung up, chequer’d with white, 1168<br/> + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood<br/> + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell,<br/> +Comparing it to her Adonis’ breath; 1172<br/> +And says within her bosom it shall dwell,<br/> +Since he himself is reft from her by death;<br/> + She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears<br/> + Green-dropping sap, which she compares to tears.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Poor flower,” quoth she, “this was thy father’s guise,<br/> +Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire,<br/> +For every little grief to wet his eyes,<br/> +To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180<br/> + And so ’tis thine; but know, it is as good<br/> + To wither in my breast as in his blood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Here was thy father’s bed, here in my breast;<br/> +Thou art the next of blood, and ’tis thy right: 1184<br/> +Lo in this hollow cradle take thy rest,<br/> +My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night:<br/> + There shall not be one minute in an hour<br/> + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love’s flower.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189<br/> +And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid<br/> +Their mistress mounted through the empty skies,<br/> +In her light chariot quickly is convey’d; 1192<br/> + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen<br/> + Means to immure herself and not be seen.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +FINIS +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1045 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e033ed4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #1045 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1045) diff --git a/old/1045-0.txt b/old/1045-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be6e0f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1045-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1814 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Venus and Adonis, by William Shakespeare + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Venus and Adonis + +Author: William Shakespeare + +Release Date: September, 1997 [eBook #1045] +[Most recently updated: January 8, 2023] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Dianne Bean + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS *** + + + + + VENUS AND ADONIS + + + by William Shakespeare + + + _Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo + Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua._ + + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE + +HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, + +and Baron of Titchfield. + + +Right Honourable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my +unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me +for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if +your honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow +to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some +graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I +shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so +barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it +to your honourable survey, and your honour to your heart’s content; +which I wish may always answer your own wish and the world’s hopeful +expectation. + + +Your honour’s in all duty, + + +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. + + + VENUS AND ADONIS + + +Even as the sun with purple-colour’d face +Had ta’en his last leave of the weeping morn, +Rose-cheek’d Adonis hied him to the chase; +Hunting he lov’d, but love he laugh’d to scorn; 4 + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, + And like a bold-fac’d suitor ’gins to woo him. + +“Thrice fairer than myself,” thus she began, +“The field’s chief flower, sweet above compare, 8 +Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man, +More white and red than doves or roses are: + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12 + +“Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, +And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow; +If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed +A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16 + Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses, + And being set, I’ll smother thee with kisses. + +“And yet not cloy thy lips with loath’d satiety, +But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20 +Making them red, and pale, with fresh variety: +Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: + A summer’s day will seem an hour but short, + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.” 24 + +With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, +The precedent of pith and livelihood, +And trembling in her passion, calls it balm, +Earth’s sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28 + Being so enrag’d, desire doth lend her force + Courageously to pluck him from his horse. + +Over one arm the lusty courser’s rein, +Under her other was the tender boy, 32 +Who blush’d and pouted in a dull disdain, +With leaden appetite, unapt to toy; + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire, + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36 + +The studded bridle on a ragged bough +Nimbly she fastens;—O! how quick is love!— +The steed is stalled up, and even now +To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40 + Backward she push’d him, as she would be thrust, + And govern’d him in strength, though not in lust. + +So soon was she along, as he was down, +Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44 +Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, +And ’gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips, + And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, + “If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.” 48 + +He burns with bashful shame, she with her tears +Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; +Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs +To fan and blow them dry again she seeks. 52 + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss; + What follows more, she murders with a kiss. + +Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, +Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56 +Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste, +Till either gorge be stuff’d or prey be gone: + Even so she kiss’d his brow, his cheek, his chin, + And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60 + +Forc’d to content, but never to obey, +Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face. +She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey, +And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace, 64 + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers + So they were dew’d with such distilling showers. + +Look how a bird lies tangled in a net, +So fasten’d in her arms Adonis lies; 68 +Pure shame and aw’d resistance made him fret, +Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes: + Rain added to a river that is rank + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72 + +Still she entreats, and prettily entreats, +For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale. +Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets, +’Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale; 76 + Being red she loves him best, and being white, + Her best is better’d with a more delight. + +Look how he can, she cannot choose but love; +And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80 +From his soft bosom never to remove, +Till he take truce with her contending tears, + Which long have rain’d, making her cheeks all wet; + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt. + +Upon this promise did he raise his chin, 85 +Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave, +Who, being look’d on, ducks as quickly in; +So offers he to give what she did crave, 88 + But when her lips were ready for his pay, + He winks, and turns his lips another way. + +Never did passenger in summer’s heat +More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92 +Her help she sees, but help she cannot get; +She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: + “O! pity,” ’gan she cry, “flint-hearted boy, + ’Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96 + +“I have been woo’d as I entreat thee now, +Even by the stern and direful god of war, +Whose sinewy neck in battle ne’er did bow, +Who conquers where he comes in every jar; 100 + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, + And begg’d for that which thou unask’d shalt have. + +“Over my altars hath he hung his lance, +His batter’d shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104 +And for my sake hath learn’d to sport and dance, +To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108 + +“Thus he that overrul’d I oversway’d, +Leading him prisoner in a red rose chain: +Strong-temper’d steel his stronger strength obey’d, +Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112 + Oh be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, + For mast’ring her that foil’d the god of fight. + +“Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine, +Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red, 116 +The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine: +What see’st thou in the ground? hold up thy head, + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies; + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120 + +“Art thou asham’d to kiss? then wink again, +And I will wink; so shall the day seem night. +Love keeps his revels where there are but twain; +Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight, 124 + These blue-vein’d violets whereon we lean + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean. + +“The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127 +Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted, +Make use of time, let not advantage slip; +Beauty within itself should not be wasted, + Fair flowers that are not gather’d in their prime + Rot, and consume themselves in little time. 132 + +“Were I hard-favour’d, foul, or wrinkled old, +Ill-nurtur’d, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, +O’erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold, +Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136 + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; + But having no defects, why dost abhor me? + +“Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow, 139 +Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning; +My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow, +My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning, + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt, + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144 + +“Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear, +Or like a fairy, trip upon the green, +Or like a nymph, with long dishevell’d hair, +Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen. 148 + Love is a spirit all compact of fire, + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. + +“Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie: 151 +These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; +Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky, +From morn till night, even where I list to sport me. + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156 + +“Is thine own heart to thine own face affected? +Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left? +Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected, +Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160 + Narcissus so himself himself forsook, + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. + +“Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, +Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164 +Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear; +Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse, + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty; + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168 + +“Upon the earth’s increase why shouldst thou feed, +Unless the earth with thy increase be fed? +By law of nature thou art bound to breed, +That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172 + And so in spite of death thou dost survive, + In that thy likeness still is left alive.” + +By this the love-sick queen began to sweat, +For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176 +And Titan, tired in the midday heat, +With burning eye did hotly overlook them, + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide, + So he were like him and by Venus’ side. 180 + +And now Adonis with a lazy spright, +And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye, +His louring brows o’erwhelming his fair sight, +Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184 + Souring his cheeks, cries, “Fie, no more of love: + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.” + +“Ay me,” quoth Venus, “young, and so unkind! +What bare excuses mak’st thou to be gone! 188 +I’ll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind +Shall cool the heat of this descending sun: + I’ll make a shadow for thee of my hairs; + If they burn too, I’ll quench them with my tears. 192 + +“The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm, +And lo I lie between that sun and thee: +The heat I have from thence doth little harm, +Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196 + And were I not immortal, life were done, + Between this heavenly and earthly sun. + +“Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel? +Nay more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200 +Art thou a woman’s son and canst not feel +What ’tis to love, how want of love tormenteth? + O had thy mother borne so hard a mind, + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. 204 + +“What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this? +Or what great danger dwells upon my suit? +What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? +Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: 208 + Give me one kiss, I’ll give it thee again, + And one for int’rest, if thou wilt have twain. + +“Fie, lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone, +Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212 +Statue contenting but the eye alone, +Thing like a man, but of no woman bred: + Thou art no man, though of a man’s complexion, + For men will kiss even by their own direction.” 216 + +This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue, +And swelling passion doth provoke a pause; +Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong; +Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause. 220 + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak, + And now her sobs do her intendments break. + +Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand, +Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224 +Sometimes her arms infold him like a band: +She would, he will not in her arms be bound; + And when from thence he struggles to be gone, + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228 + +“Fondling,” she saith, “since I have hemm’d thee here +Within the circuit of this ivory pale, +I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer; +Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232 + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry, + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. + +“Within this limit is relief enough, +Sweet bottom grass and high delightful plain, 236 +Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, +To shelter thee from tempest and from rain: + Then be my deer, since I am such a park, 239 + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.” + +At this Adonis smiles as in disdain, +That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple; +Love made those hollows, if himself were slain, +He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244 + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie, + Why there love liv’d, and there he could not die. + +These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits, +Open’d their mouths to swallow Venus’ liking. 248 +Being mad before, how doth she now for wits? +Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking? + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn, + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252 + +Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say? +Her words are done, her woes the more increasing; +The time is spent, her object will away, +And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256 + “Pity,” she cries; “some favour, some remorse!” + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse. + +But lo from forth a copse that neighbours by, +A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260 +Adonis’ tramping courser doth espy, +And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud: + The strong-neck’d steed, being tied unto a tree, + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264 + +Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, +And now his woven girths he breaks asunder; +The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds, +Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven’s thunder; + The iron bit he crusheth ’tween his teeth, 269 + Controlling what he was controlled with. + +His ears up-prick’d; his braided hanging mane +Upon his compass’d crest now stand on end; 272 +His nostrils drink the air, and forth again, +As from a furnace, vapours doth he send: + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire, + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276 + +Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps, +With gentle majesty and modest pride; +Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps, +As who should say, “Lo thus my strength is tried; + And this I do to captivate the eye 281 + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.” + +What recketh he his rider’s angry stir, +His flattering “Holla”, or his “Stand, I say”? 284 +What cares he now for curb or pricking spur? +For rich caparisons or trappings gay? + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees, + For nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288 + +Look when a painter would surpass the life, +In limning out a well-proportion’d steed, +His art with nature’s workmanship at strife, +As if the dead the living should exceed: 292 + So did this horse excel a common one, + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone. + +Round-hoof’d, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, +Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide, +High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong, +Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide: + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack, + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300 + +Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares; +Anon he starts at stirring of a feather: +To bid the wind a base he now prepares, +And where he run or fly they know not whether; 304 + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings, + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather’d wings. + +He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her; +She answers him as if she knew his mind, 308 +Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her, +She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind, + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels, + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312 + +Then like a melancholy malcontent, +He vails his tail that like a falling plume, +Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent: +He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316 + His love, perceiving how he was enrag’d, + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag’d. + +His testy master goeth about to take him, +When lo the unback’d breeder, full of fear, 320 +Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him, +With her the horse, and left Adonis there: + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them, + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324 + +All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits, +Banning his boisterous and unruly beast; +And now the happy season once more fits +That love-sick love by pleading may be blest; 328 + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong, + When it is barr’d the aidance of the tongue. + +An oven that is stopp’d, or river stay’d, +Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332 +So of concealed sorrow may be said, +Free vent of words love’s fire doth assuage; + But when the heart’s attorney once is mute, + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336 + +He sees her coming, and begins to glow, +Even as a dying coal revives with wind, +And with his bonnet hides his angry brow, +Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340 + Taking no notice that she is so nigh, + For all askance he holds her in his eye. + +O what a sight it was, wistly to view +How she came stealing to the wayward boy, 344 +To note the fighting conflict of her hue, +How white and red each other did destroy: + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by + It flash’d forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348 + +Now was she just before him as he sat, +And like a lowly lover down she kneels; +With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat, +Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352 + His tend’rer cheek receives her soft hand’s print, + As apt as new-fall’n snow takes any dint. + +Oh what a war of looks was then between them, +Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing, 356 +His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seen them, +Her eyes woo’d still, his eyes disdain’d the wooing: + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain. + +Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361 +A lily prison’d in a gaol of snow, +Or ivory in an alabaster band, +So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364 + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, + Show’d like two silver doves that sit a-billing. + +Once more the engine of her thoughts began: +“O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368 +Would thou wert as I am, and I a man, +My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound, + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee, + Though nothing but my body’s bane would cure thee.” + +“Give me my hand,” saith he, “why dost thou feel it?” +“Give me my heart,” saith she, “and thou shalt have it. +O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it, +And being steel’d, soft sighs can never grave it. 376 + Then love’s deep groans I never shall regard, + Because Adonis’ heart hath made mine hard.” + +“For shame,” he cries, “let go, and let me go, +My day’s delight is past, my horse is gone, 380 +And ’tis your fault I am bereft him so, +I pray you hence, and leave me here alone, + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care, + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.” 384 + +Thus she replies: “Thy palfrey as he should, +Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire, +Affection is a coal that must be cool’d; +Else, suffer’d, it will set the heart on fire, 388 + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none; + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone. + +“How like a jade he stood tied to the tree, +Servilely master’d with a leathern rein! 392 +But when he saw his love, his youth’s fair fee, +He held such petty bondage in disdain; + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest, + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396 + +“Who sees his true-love in her naked bed, +Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white, +But when his glutton eye so full hath fed, +His other agents aim at like delight? 400 + Who is so faint that dare not be so bold + To touch the fire, the weather being cold? + +“Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy, +And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404 +To take advantage on presented joy, +Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee. + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain, + And once made perfect, never lost again.” 408 + +“I know not love,” quoth he, “nor will not know it, +Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it; +’Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it; +My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412 + For I have heard, it is a life in death, + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath. + +“Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish’d? +Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416 +If springing things be any jot diminish’d, +They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth; + The colt that’s back’d and burden’d being young, + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420 + +“You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part, +And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat: +Remove your siege from my unyielding heart, +To love’s alarms it will not ope the gate: 424 + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flatt’ry; + For where a heart is hard they make no batt’ry.” + +“What! canst thou talk?” quoth she, “hast thou a tongue? +O would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428 +Thy mermaid’s voice hath done me double wrong; +I had my load before, now press’d with bearing: + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding, + Ear’s deep sweet music, and heart’s deep sore wounding. + +“Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433 +That inward beauty and invisible; +Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move +Each part in me that were but sensible: 436 + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, + Yet should I be in love by touching thee. + +“Say that the sense of feeling were bereft me, +And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440 +And nothing but the very smell were left me, +Yet would my love to thee be still as much; + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling + Comes breath perfum’d, that breedeth love by smelling. + +“But oh what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445 +Being nurse and feeder of the other four; +Would they not wish the feast might ever last, +And bid suspicion double-lock the door, + Lest jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest, + Should by his stealing in disturb the feast?” 448 + +Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d, +Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452 +Like a red morn that ever yet betoken’d +Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field, + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds, + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456 + +This ill presage advisedly she marketh: +Even as the wind is hush’d before it raineth, +Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh, +Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460 + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun, + His meaning struck her ere his words begun. + +And at his look she flatly falleth down +For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464 +A smile recures the wounding of a frown; +But blessed bankrout, that by love so thriveth! + The silly boy, believing she is dead, + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red. 468 + +And all amaz’d brake off his late intent, +For sharply he did think to reprehend her, +Which cunning love did wittily prevent: +Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472 + For on the grass she lies as she were slain, + Till his breath breatheth life in her again. + +He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks, +He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476 +He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks +To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr’d: + He kisses her; and she, by her good will, + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480 + +The night of sorrow now is turn’d to day: +Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth, +Like the fair sun when in his fresh array +He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484 + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky, + So is her face illumin’d with her eye. + +Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix’d, +As if from thence they borrow’d all their shine. 488 +Were never four such lamps together mix’d, +Had not his clouded with his brow’s repine; + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492 + +“O where am I?” quoth she, “in earth or heaven? +Or in the ocean drench’d, or in the fire? +What hour is this? or morn or weary even? +Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496 + But now I liv’d, and life was death’s annoy; + But now I died, and death was lively joy. + +“O thou didst kill me; kill me once again: +Thy eyes’ shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500 +Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain, +That they have murder’d this poor heart of mine; + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen, + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504 + +“Long may they kiss each other for this cure! +Oh never let their crimson liveries wear, +And as they last, their verdure still endure, +To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508 + That the star-gazers, having writ on death, + May say, the plague is banish’d by thy breath. + +“Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted, +What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512 +To sell myself I can be well contented, +So thou wilt buy, and pay, and use good dealing; + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips, + Set thy seal manual on my wax-red lips. 516 + +“A thousand kisses buys my heart from me; +And pay them at thy leisure, one by one, +What is ten hundred touches unto thee? +Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520 + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double, + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?” + +“Fair queen,” quoth he, “if any love you owe me, +Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524 +Before I know myself, seek not to know me; +No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears: + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast, + Or being early pluck’d, is sour to taste. 528 + +“Look the world’s comforter, with weary gait +His day’s hot task hath ended in the west; +The owl, night’s herald, shrieks, ’tis very late; +The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532 + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven’s light + Do summon us to part, and bid good night. + +“Now let me say good night, and so say you; +If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.” 536 +“Good night,” quoth she; and ere he says adieu, +The honey fee of parting tender’d is: + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace; + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540 + +Till breathless he disjoin’d, and backward drew +The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth, +Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew, +Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth, 544 + He with her plenty press’d, she faint with dearth, + Their lips together glued, fall to the earth. + +Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey, +And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548 +Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey, +Paying what ransom the insulter willeth; + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high, + That she will draw his lips’ rich treasure dry. 552 + +And having felt the sweetness of the spoil, +With blindfold fury she begins to forage; +Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil, +And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage, 556 + Planting oblivion, beating reason back, + Forgetting shame’s pure blush and honour’s wrack. + +Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing, +Like a wild bird being tam’d with too much handling, +Or as the fleet-foot roe that’s tir’d with chasing, 561 +Or like the froward infant still’d with dandling: + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth, + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564 + +What wax so frozen but dissolves with temp’ring, +And yields at last to every light impression? +Things out of hope are compass’d oft with vent’ring, +Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568 + Affection faints not like a pale-fac’d coward, + But then woos best when most his choice is froward. + +When he did frown, O had she then gave over, +Such nectar from his lips she had not suck’d. 572 +Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover; +What though the rose have prickles, yet ’tis pluck’d. + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast, + Yet love breaks through, and picks them all at last. + +For pity now she can no more detain him; 577 +The poor fool prays her that he may depart: +She is resolv’d no longer to restrain him, +Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580 + The which by Cupid’s bow she doth protest, + He carries thence encaged in his breast. + +“Sweet boy,” she says, “this night I’ll waste in sorrow, +For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584 +Tell me, love’s master, shall we meet tomorrow +Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?” + He tells her no, tomorrow he intends + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588 + +“The boar!” quoth she; whereat a sudden pale, +Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose, +Usurps her cheek, she trembles at his tale, +And on his neck her yoking arms she throws. 592 + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck, + He on her belly falls, she on her back. + +Now is she in the very lists of love, +Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596 +All is imaginary she doth prove, +He will not manage her, although he mount her; + That worse than Tantalus’ is her annoy, + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600 + +Even as poor birds, deceiv’d with painted grapes, +Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw: +Even so she languisheth in her mishaps, +As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604 + The warm effects which she in him finds missing, + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing. + +But all in vain, good queen, it will not be, +She hath assay’d as much as may be prov’d; 608 +Her pleading hath deserv’d a greater fee; +She’s love, she loves, and yet she is not lov’d. + “Fie, fie,” he says, “you crush me; let me go; + You have no reason to withhold me so.” 612 + +“Thou hadst been gone,” quoth she, “sweet boy, ere this, +But that thou told’st me thou wouldst hunt the boar. +Oh be advis’d; thou know’st not what it is, +With javelin’s point a churlish swine to gore, 616 + Whose tushes never sheath’d he whetteth still, + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill. + +“On his bow-back he hath a battle set +Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620 +His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret; +His snout digs sepulchres where’er he goes; + Being mov’d, he strikes whate’er is in his way, + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624 + +“His brawny sides, with hairy bristles armed, +Are better proof than thy spear’s point can enter; +His short thick neck cannot be easily harmed; +Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628 + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes, + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes. + +“Alas! he naught esteems that face of thine, +To which love’s eyes pay tributary gazes; 632 +Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne, +Whose full perfection all the world amazes; + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread! + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead. + +“Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still, 637 +Beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends: +Come not within his danger by thy will; +They that thrive well, take counsel of their friends. + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble, + I fear’d thy fortune, and my joints did tremble. + +“Didst thou not mark my face, was it not white? +Saw’st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644 +Grew I not faint, and fell I not downright? +Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie, + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest, + But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast. + +“For where love reigns, disturbing jealousy 649 +Doth call himself affection’s sentinel; +Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny, +And in a peaceful hour doth cry “Kill, kill!” 652 + Distemp’ring gentle love in his desire, + As air and water do abate the fire. + +“This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy, +This canker that eats up love’s tender spring, 656 +This carry-tale, dissentious jealousy, +That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring, + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear, + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear. 660 + +“And more than so, presenteth to mine eye +The picture of an angry chafing boar, +Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie +An image like thyself, all stain’d with gore; 664 + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed, + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head. + +“What should I do, seeing thee so indeed, +That tremble at th’imagination? 668 +The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed, +And fear doth teach it divination: + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow, + If thou encounter with the boar tomorrow. 672 + +“But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul’d by me; +Uncouple at the timorous flying hare, +Or at the fox which lives by subtilty, +Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676 + Pursue these fearful creatures o’er the downs, + And on thy well-breath’d horse keep with thy hounds. + +“And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare, +Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680 +How he outruns the wind, and with what care +He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles: + The many musits through the which he goes + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684 + +“Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep, +To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell, +And sometime where earth-delving conies keep, +To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688 + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer; + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear. + +“For there his smell with others being mingled, 691 +The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt, +Ceasing their clamorous cry, till they have singled +With much ado the cold fault cleanly out; + Then do they spend their mouths: echo replies, + As if another chase were in the skies. 696 + +“By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, +Stands on his hinder legs with list’ning ear, +To hearken if his foes pursue him still. +Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700 + And now his grief may be compared well + To one sore sick that hears the passing bell. + +“Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch +Turn, and return, indenting with the way, 704 +Each envious briar his weary legs do scratch, +Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay: + For misery is trodden on by many, + And being low never reliev’d by any. 708 + +“Lie quietly, and hear a little more; +Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise: +To make thee hate the hunting of the boar, +Unlike myself thou hear’st me moralize, 712 + Applying this to that, and so to so, + For love can comment upon every woe. + +“Where did I leave?” “No matter where,” quoth he +“Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716 +The night is spent.” “Why, what of that?” quoth she. +“I am,” quoth he, “expected of my friends; + And now ’tis dark, and going I shall fall.” + “In night,” quoth she, “desire sees best of all. 720 + +But if thou fall, oh then imagine this, +The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips, +And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723 +Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn, + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn." + +“Now of this dark night I perceive the reason: +Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728 +Till forging nature be condemn’d of treason, +For stealing moulds from heaven, that were divine; + Wherein she fram’d thee, in high heaven’s despite, + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732 + +“And therefore hath she brib’d the destinies, +To cross the curious workmanship of nature, +To mingle beauty with infirmities, +And pure perfection with impure defeature, 736 + Making it subject to the tyranny + Of mad mischances and much misery. + +“As burning fevers, agues pale and faint, +Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740 +The marrow-eating sickness, whose attaint +Disorder breeds by heating of the blood; + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn’d despair, + Swear nature’s death, for framing thee so fair. 744 + +“And not the least of all these maladies +But in one minute’s fight brings beauty under: +Both favour, savour, hue and qualities, +Whereat th’impartial gazer late did wonder, 748 + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw’d and done, + As mountain snow melts with the midday sun. + +“Therefore despite of fruitless chastity, +Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752 +That on the earth would breed a scarcity +And barren dearth of daughters and of sons, + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756 + +“What is thy body but a swallowing grave, +Seeming to bury that posterity, +Which by the rights of time thou needs must have, +If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760 + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain, + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain. + +“So in thyself thyself art made away; +A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764 +Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay, +Or butcher sire that reeves his son of life. + Foul cank’ring rust the hidden treasure frets, + But gold that’s put to use more gold begets.” 768 + +“Nay then,” quoth Adon, “you will fall again +Into your idle over-handled theme; +The kiss I gave you is bestow’d in vain, +And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772 + For by this black-fac’d night, desire’s foul nurse, + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse. + +“If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues, +And every tongue more moving than your own, 776 +Bewitching like the wanton mermaid’s songs, +Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown; + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear, + And will not let a false sound enter there. 780 + +“Lest the deceiving harmony should run +Into the quiet closure of my breast, +And then my little heart were quite undone, +In his bedchamber to be barr’d of rest. 784 + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan, + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone. + +“What have you urg’d that I cannot reprove? +The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790 +I hate not love, but your device in love +That lends embracements unto every stranger. + You do it for increase: O strange excuse! + When reason is the bawd to lust’s abuse. 792 + +“Call it not love, for love to heaven is fled, +Since sweating lust on earth usurp’d his name; +Under whose simple semblance he hath fed +Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796 + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves, + As caterpillars do the tender leaves. + +“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, +But lust’s effect is tempest after sun; 800 +Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain, +Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done. + Love surfeits not, lust like a glutton dies; + Love is all truth, lust full of forged lies. 804 + +“More I could tell, but more I dare not say; +The text is old, the orator too green. +Therefore, in sadness, now I will away; +My face is full of shame, my heart of teen, 808 + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended + Do burn themselves for having so offended.” + +With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811 +Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast, +And homeward through the dark laund runs apace; +Leaves love upon her back deeply distress’d. + Look how a bright star shooteth from the sky, + So glides he in the night from Venus’ eye. 816 + +Which after him she darts, as one on shore +Gazing upon a late embarked friend, +Till the wild waves will have him seen no more, +Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820 + So did the merciless and pitchy night + Fold in the object that did feed her sight. + +Whereat amaz’d, as one that unaware +Hath dropp’d a precious jewel in the flood, 824 +Or ’stonish’d as night-wanderers often are, +Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood; + Even so confounded in the dark she lay, + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828 + +And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans, +That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled, +Make verbal repetition of her moans; +Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832 + “Ay me!” she cries, and twenty times, “Woe, woe!” + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so. + +She marking them, begins a wailing note, +And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836 +How love makes young men thrall, and old men dote, +How love is wise in folly foolish witty: + Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe, + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840 + +Her song was tedious, and outwore the night, +For lovers’ hours are long, though seeming short, +If pleas’d themselves, others they think, delight +In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844 + Their copious stories oftentimes begun, + End without audience, and are never done. + +For who hath she to spend the night withal, +But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848 +Like shrill-tongu’d tapsters answering every call, +Soothing the humour of fantastic wits? + She says, “’Tis so:” they answer all, “’Tis so;” + And would say after her, if she said “No.” 852 + +Lo here the gentle lark, weary of rest, +From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, +And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast +The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856 + Who doth the world so gloriously behold, + That cedar tops and hills seem burnish’d gold. + +Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow: +“Oh thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860 +From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow +The beauteous influence that makes him bright, + There lives a son that suck’d an earthly mother, + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other.” + +This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865 +Musing the morning is so much o’erworn, +And yet she hears no tidings of her love; +She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn. 868 + Anon she hears them chant it lustily, + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry. + +And as she runs, the bushes in the way +Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872 +Some twine about her thigh to make her stay: +She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace, + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache, + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876 + +By this she hears the hounds are at a bay, +Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder +Wreath’d up in fatal folds just in his way, +The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; 880 + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds. + +For now she knows it is no gentle chase, +But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884 +Because the cry remaineth in one place, +Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud, + Finding their enemy to be so curst, + They all strain court’sy who shall cope him first. 888 + +This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear, +Through which it enters to surprise her heart; +Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear, +With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; 892 + Like soldiers when their captain once doth yield, + They basely fly and dare not stay the field. + +Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy, +Till cheering up her senses sore dismay’d, 896 +She tells them ’tis a causeless fantasy, +And childish error, that they are afraid; + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more: + And with that word, she spied the hunted boar. 900 + +Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red, +Like milk and blood being mingled both together, +A second fear through all her sinews spread, +Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904 + This way she runs, and now she will no further, + But back retires, to rate the boar for murther. + +A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways, +She treads the path that she untreads again; 908 +Her more than haste is mated with delays, +Like the proceedings of a drunken brain, + Full of respects, yet naught at all respecting, + In hand with all things, naught at all effecting. + +Here kennel’d in a brake she finds a hound, 913 +And asks the weary caitiff for his master, +And there another licking of his wound, +’Gainst venom’d sores the only sovereign plaster. 916 + And here she meets another sadly scowling, + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling. + +When he hath ceas’d his ill-resounding noise, +Another flap-mouth’d mourner, black and grim, 920 +Against the welkin volleys out his voice; +Another and another answer him, + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below, + Shaking their scratch’d ears, bleeding as they go. + +Look how the world’s poor people are amazed 925 +At apparitions, signs, and prodigies, +Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed, +Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928 + So she at these sad signs draws up her breath, + And sighing it again, exclaims on death. + +“Hard-favour’d tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931 +Hateful divorce of love,” thus chides she death, +“Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean? +To stifle beauty and to steal his breath, + Who when he liv’d, his breath and beauty set + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet. 936 + +“If he be dead, O no, it cannot be, +Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it, +O yes, it may, thou hast no eyes to see, +But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940 + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart + Mistakes that aim, and cleaves an infant’s heart. + +“Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke, +And hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944 +The destinies will curse thee for this stroke; +They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck’st a flower. + Love’s golden arrow at him should have fled, + And not death’s ebon dart to strike him dead. 948 + +“Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok’st such weeping? +What may a heavy groan advantage thee? +Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping +Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952 + Now nature cares not for thy mortal vigour, + Since her best work is ruin’d with thy rigour.” + +Here overcome, as one full of despair, +She vail’d her eyelids, who like sluices stopp’d 956 +The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair +In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp’d + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain, + And with his strong course opens them again. 960 + +O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow; +Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye; +Both crystals, where they view’d each other’s sorrow, +Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964 + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain, + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again. + +Variable passions throng her constant woe, +As striving who should best become her grief; 968 +All entertain’d, each passion labours so, +That every present sorrow seemeth chief, + But none is best, then join they all together, + Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972 + +By this, far off she hears some huntsman holla; +A nurse’s song ne’er pleas’d her babe so well: +The dire imagination she did follow +This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976 + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice, + And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice. + +Whereat her tears began to turn their tide, +Being prison’d in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980 +Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside, +Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground, + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown’d. + +O hard-believing love, how strange it seems 985 +Not to believe, and yet too credulous; +Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes; +Despair and hope make thee ridiculous, 988 + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely, + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly. + +Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought, +Adonis lives, and death is not to blame; 992 +It was not she that call’d him all to naught; +Now she adds honours to his hateful name. + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings, + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996 + +“No, no,” quoth she, “sweet death, I did but jest; +Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear +Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast, +Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000 + Then, gentle shadow,—truth I must confess— + I rail’d on thee, fearing my love’s decease. + +“’Tis not my fault, the boar provok’d my tongue; +Be wreak’d on him, invisible commander; 1004 +’Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong; +I did but act, he’s author of my slander. + Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet, + Could rule them both, without ten women’s wit.” + +Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009 +Her rash suspect she doth extenuate; +And that his beauty may the better thrive, +With death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012 + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs and stories + His victories, his triumphs and his glories. + +“O love!” quoth she, “how much a fool was I, +To be of such a weak and silly mind, 1016 +To wail his death who lives, and must not die +Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind; + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain, + And beauty dead, black Chaos comes again. 1020 + +“Fie, fie, fond love, thou art as full of fear +As one with treasure laden, hemm’d with thieves, +Trifles unwitnessed with eye or ear, +Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.” 1024 + Even at this word she hears a merry horn, + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn. + +As falcon to the lure, away she flies; +The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light, 1028 +And in her haste unfortunately spies +The foul boar’s conquest on her fair delight; + Which seen, her eyes, as murder’d with the view, + Like stars asham’d of day, themselves withdrew. + +Or as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033 +Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain, +And there all smother’d up, in shade doth sit, +Long after fearing to creep forth again: 1036 + So at his bloody view her eyes are fled + Into the deep dark cabins of her head. + +Where they resign their office and their light +To the disposing of her troubled brain, 1040 +Who bids them still consort with ugly night, +And never wound the heart with looks again; + Who like a king perplexed in his throne, + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan. 1044 + +Whereat each tributary subject quakes, +As when the wind imprison’d in the ground, +Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes, +Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound. + This mutiny each part doth so surprise 1049 + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes. + +And being open’d, threw unwilling light +Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench’d +In his soft flank, whose wonted lily white 1053 +With purple tears that his wound wept, was drench’d. + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf or weed, + But stole his blood and seem’d with him to bleed. + +This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057 +Over one shoulder doth she hang her head, +Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth; +She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060 + Her voice is stopp’d, her joints forget to bow, + Her eyes are mad, that they have wept till now. + +Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly, +That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three; +And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065 +That makes more gashes, where no breach should be: + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled, + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled. + +“My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069 +And yet,” quoth she, “behold two Adons dead! +My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone, +Mine eyes are turn’d to fire, my heart to lead: 1072 + Heavy heart’s lead, melt at mine eyes’ red fire! + So shall I die by drops of hot desire. + +“Alas poor world, what treasure hast thou lost! +What face remains alive that’s worth the viewing? +Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast +Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078 + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim, + But true sweet beauty liv’d and died with him. + +“Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081 +Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you: +Having no fair to lose, you need not fear; +The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you. + But when Adonis liv’d, sun and sharp air 1085 + Lurk’d like two thieves, to rob him of his fair. + +“And therefore would he put his bonnet on, +Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088 +The wind would blow it off, and being gone, +Play with his locks; then would Adonis weep; + And straight, in pity of his tender years, + They both would strive who first should dry his tears. + +“To see his face the lion walk’d along 1093 +Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him; +To recreate himself when he hath sung, +The tiger would be tame and gently hear him. 1096 + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey, + And never fright the silly lamb that day. + +“When he beheld his shadow in the brook, +The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100 +When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, +That some would sing, some other in their bills + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries, + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries. + +“But this foul, grim, and urchin-snouted boar, 1105 +Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave, +Ne’er saw the beauteous livery that he wore; +Witness the entertainment that he gave. 1108 + If he did see his face, why then I know + He thought to kiss him, and hath kill’d him so. + +“’Tis true, ’tis true; thus was Adonis slain: +He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112 +Who did not whet his teeth at him again, +But by a kiss thought to persuade him there; + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine + Sheath’d unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116 + +“Had I been tooth’d like him, I must confess, +With kissing him I should have kill’d him first; +But he is dead, and never did he bless +My youth with his; the more am I accurst.” 1120 + With this she falleth in the place she stood, + And stains her face with his congealed blood. + +She looks upon his lips, and they are pale; +She takes him by the hand, and that is cold, 1124 +She whispers in his ears a heavy tale, +As if they heard the woeful words she told; +She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes, +Where lo, two lamps burnt out in darkness lies. + +Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129 +A thousand times, and now no more reflect; +Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell’d, +And every beauty robb’d of his effect. 1132 + “Wonder of time,” quoth she, “this is my spite, + That thou being dead, the day should yet be light. + +“Since thou art dead, lo here I prophesy, +Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136 +It shall be waited on with jealousy, +Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end; + Ne’er settled equally, but high or low, + That all love’s pleasure shall not match his woe. + +“It shall be fickle, false and full of fraud, 1141 +Bud, and be blasted in a breathing while; +The bottom poison, and the top o’erstraw’d +With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile. 1144 + The strongest body shall it make most weak, + Strike the wise dumb, and teach the fool to speak. + +“It shall be sparing, and too full of riot, +Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148 +The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet, +Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures; + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild, + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152 + +“It shall suspect where is no cause of fear, +It shall not fear where it should most mistrust; +It shall be merciful, and too severe, +And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156 + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward, + Put fear to valour, courage to the coward. + +“It shall be cause of war and dire events, +And set dissension ’twixt the son and sire; 1160 +Subject and servile to all discontents, +As dry combustious matter is to fire, + Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy, + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.” 1164 + +By this the boy that by her side lay kill’d +Was melted like a vapour from her sight, +And in his blood that on the ground lay spill’d, +A purple flower sprung up, chequer’d with white, 1168 + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood. + +She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell, +Comparing it to her Adonis’ breath; 1172 +And says within her bosom it shall dwell, +Since he himself is reft from her by death; + She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears + Green-dropping sap, which she compares to tears. + +“Poor flower,” quoth she, “this was thy father’s guise, +Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire, +For every little grief to wet his eyes, +To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180 + And so ’tis thine; but know, it is as good + To wither in my breast as in his blood. + +“Here was thy father’s bed, here in my breast; +Thou art the next of blood, and ’tis thy right: 1184 +Lo in this hollow cradle take thy rest, +My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night: + There shall not be one minute in an hour + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love’s flower.” + +Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189 +And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid +Their mistress mounted through the empty skies, +In her light chariot quickly is convey’d; 1192 + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen + Means to immure herself and not be seen. + + + FINIS + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Venus and Adonis</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: William Shakespeare</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September, 1997 [eBook #1045]<br /> +[Most recently updated: January 8, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Dianne Bean</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS ***</div> + +<h1>VENUS AND ADONIS</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by William Shakespeare</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<p class="left"> +<i>Vilia miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo<br /> +Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.</i> +</p> + +<h4> +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE<br /> +HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON,<br /> +and Baron of Titchfield. +</h4> + +<p> +Right Honourable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished +lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so +strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if your honour seem but +pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all +idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if the +first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble +a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me +still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your +honour to your heart’s content; which I wish may always answer your own +wish and the world’s hopeful expectation. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your honour’s in all duty,<br /> +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. +</p> + +<hr /> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>VENUS AND ADONIS</h2> + +<p class="noindent"><br/> +Even as the sun with purple-colour’d face<br/> +Had ta’en his last leave of the weeping morn,<br/> +Rose-cheek’d Adonis hied him to the chase;<br/> +Hunting he lov’d, but love he laugh’d to scorn; 4<br/> + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him,<br/> + And like a bold-fac’d suitor ’gins to woo him.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thrice fairer than myself,” thus she began,<br/> +“The field’s chief flower, sweet above compare, 8<br/> +Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man,<br/> +More white and red than doves or roses are:<br/> + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife,<br/> + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed,<br/> +And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow;<br/> +If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed<br/> +A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16<br/> + Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses,<br/> + And being set, I’ll smother thee with kisses.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And yet not cloy thy lips with loath’d satiety,<br/> +But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20<br/> +Making them red, and pale, with fresh variety:<br/> +Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty:<br/> + A summer’s day will seem an hour but short,<br/> + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.” 24<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +With this she seizeth on his sweating palm,<br/> +The precedent of pith and livelihood,<br/> +And trembling in her passion, calls it balm,<br/> +Earth’s sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28<br/> + Being so enrag’d, desire doth lend her force<br/> + Courageously to pluck him from his horse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Over one arm the lusty courser’s rein,<br/> +Under her other was the tender boy, 32<br/> +Who blush’d and pouted in a dull disdain,<br/> +With leaden appetite, unapt to toy;<br/> + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire,<br/> + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The studded bridle on a ragged bough<br/> +Nimbly she fastens;—O! how quick is love!—<br/> +The steed is stalled up, and even now<br/> +To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40<br/> + Backward she push’d him, as she would be thrust,<br/> + And govern’d him in strength, though not in lust.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +So soon was she along, as he was down,<br/> +Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44<br/> +Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown,<br/> +And ’gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips,<br/> + And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken,<br/> + “If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.” 48<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He burns with bashful shame, she with her tears<br/> +Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks;<br/> +Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs<br/> +To fan and blow them dry again she seeks. 52<br/> + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss;<br/> + What follows more, she murders with a kiss.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast,<br/> +Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56<br/> +Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste,<br/> +Till either gorge be stuff’d or prey be gone:<br/> + Even so she kiss’d his brow, his cheek, his chin,<br/> + And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Forc’d to content, but never to obey,<br/> +Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face.<br/> +She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey,<br/> +And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace, 64<br/> + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers<br/> + So they were dew’d with such distilling showers.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how a bird lies tangled in a net,<br/> +So fasten’d in her arms Adonis lies; 68<br/> +Pure shame and aw’d resistance made him fret,<br/> +Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes:<br/> + Rain added to a river that is rank<br/> + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Still she entreats, and prettily entreats,<br/> +For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale.<br/> +Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets,<br/> +’Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy pale; 76<br/> + Being red she loves him best, and being white,<br/> + Her best is better’d with a more delight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how he can, she cannot choose but love;<br/> +And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80<br/> +From his soft bosom never to remove,<br/> +Till he take truce with her contending tears,<br/> + Which long have rain’d, making her cheeks all wet;<br/> + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Upon this promise did he raise his chin, 85<br/> +Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave,<br/> +Who, being look’d on, ducks as quickly in;<br/> +So offers he to give what she did crave, 88<br/> + But when her lips were ready for his pay,<br/> + He winks, and turns his lips another way.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Never did passenger in summer’s heat<br/> +More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92<br/> +Her help she sees, but help she cannot get;<br/> +She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn:<br/> + “O! pity,” ’gan she cry, “flint-hearted boy,<br/> + ’Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“I have been woo’d as I entreat thee now,<br/> +Even by the stern and direful god of war,<br/> +Whose sinewy neck in battle ne’er did bow,<br/> +Who conquers where he comes in every jar; 100<br/> + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave,<br/> + And begg’d for that which thou unask’d shalt have.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Over my altars hath he hung his lance,<br/> +His batter’d shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104<br/> +And for my sake hath learn’d to sport and dance,<br/> +To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest;<br/> + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red<br/> + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thus he that overrul’d I oversway’d,<br/> +Leading him prisoner in a red rose chain:<br/> +Strong-temper’d steel his stronger strength obey’d,<br/> +Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112<br/> + Oh be not proud, nor brag not of thy might,<br/> + For mast’ring her that foil’d the god of fight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine,<br/> +Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red, 116<br/> +The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine:<br/> +What see’st thou in the ground? hold up thy head,<br/> + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies;<br/> + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Art thou asham’d to kiss? then wink again,<br/> +And I will wink; so shall the day seem night.<br/> +Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;<br/> +Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight, 124<br/> + These blue-vein’d violets whereon we lean<br/> + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127<br/> +Shows thee unripe; yet mayst thou well be tasted,<br/> +Make use of time, let not advantage slip;<br/> +Beauty within itself should not be wasted,<br/> + Fair flowers that are not gather’d in their prime<br/> + Rot, and consume themselves in little time. 132<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Were I hard-favour’d, foul, or wrinkled old,<br/> +Ill-nurtur’d, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice,<br/> +O’erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold,<br/> +Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136<br/> + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee;<br/> + But having no defects, why dost abhor me?<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thou canst not see one wrinkle in my brow, 139<br/> +Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning;<br/> +My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow,<br/> +My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning,<br/> + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt,<br/> + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,<br/> +Or like a fairy, trip upon the green,<br/> +Or like a nymph, with long dishevell’d hair,<br/> +Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen. 148<br/> + Love is a spirit all compact of fire,<br/> + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie: 151<br/> +These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me;<br/> +Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky,<br/> +From morn till night, even where I list to sport me.<br/> + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be<br/> + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Is thine own heart to thine own face affected?<br/> +Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left?<br/> +Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected,<br/> +Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160<br/> + Narcissus so himself himself forsook,<br/> + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Torches are made to light, jewels to wear,<br/> +Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164<br/> +Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear;<br/> +Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse,<br/> + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty;<br/> + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Upon the earth’s increase why shouldst thou feed,<br/> +Unless the earth with thy increase be fed?<br/> +By law of nature thou art bound to breed,<br/> +That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172<br/> + And so in spite of death thou dost survive,<br/> + In that thy likeness still is left alive.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this the love-sick queen began to sweat,<br/> +For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176<br/> +And Titan, tired in the midday heat,<br/> +With burning eye did hotly overlook them,<br/> + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide,<br/> + So he were like him and by Venus’ side. 180<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And now Adonis with a lazy spright,<br/> +And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye,<br/> +His louring brows o’erwhelming his fair sight,<br/> +Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184<br/> + Souring his cheeks, cries, “Fie, no more of love:<br/> + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Ay me,” quoth Venus, “young, and so unkind!<br/> +What bare excuses mak’st thou to be gone! 188<br/> +I’ll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind<br/> +Shall cool the heat of this descending sun:<br/> + I’ll make a shadow for thee of my hairs;<br/> + If they burn too, I’ll quench them with my tears. 192<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm,<br/> +And lo I lie between that sun and thee:<br/> +The heat I have from thence doth little harm,<br/> +Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196<br/> + And were I not immortal, life were done,<br/> + Between this heavenly and earthly sun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel?<br/> +Nay more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200<br/> +Art thou a woman’s son and canst not feel<br/> +What ’tis to love, how want of love tormenteth?<br/> + O had thy mother borne so hard a mind,<br/> + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. 204<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this?<br/> +Or what great danger dwells upon my suit?<br/> +What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss?<br/> +Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: 208<br/> + Give me one kiss, I’ll give it thee again,<br/> + And one for int’rest, if thou wilt have twain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fie, lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone,<br/> +Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212<br/> +Statue contenting but the eye alone,<br/> +Thing like a man, but of no woman bred:<br/> + Thou art no man, though of a man’s complexion,<br/> + For men will kiss even by their own direction.” 216<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue,<br/> +And swelling passion doth provoke a pause;<br/> +Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong;<br/> +Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause. 220<br/> + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak,<br/> + And now her sobs do her intendments break.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand,<br/> +Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224<br/> +Sometimes her arms infold him like a band:<br/> +She would, he will not in her arms be bound;<br/> + And when from thence he struggles to be gone,<br/> + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fondling,” she saith, “since I have hemm’d thee here<br/> +Within the circuit of this ivory pale,<br/> +I’ll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer;<br/> +Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232<br/> + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry,<br/> + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Within this limit is relief enough,<br/> +Sweet bottom grass and high delightful plain, 236<br/> +Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough,<br/> +To shelter thee from tempest and from rain:<br/> + Then be my deer, since I am such a park, 239<br/> + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +At this Adonis smiles as in disdain,<br/> +That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple;<br/> +Love made those hollows, if himself were slain,<br/> +He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244<br/> + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie,<br/> + Why there love liv’d, and there he could not die.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits,<br/> +Open’d their mouths to swallow Venus’ liking. 248<br/> +Being mad before, how doth she now for wits?<br/> +Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking?<br/> + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn,<br/> + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say?<br/> +Her words are done, her woes the more increasing;<br/> +The time is spent, her object will away,<br/> +And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256<br/> + “Pity,” she cries; “some favour, some remorse!”<br/> + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But lo from forth a copse that neighbours by,<br/> +A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260<br/> +Adonis’ tramping courser doth espy,<br/> +And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud:<br/> + The strong-neck’d steed, being tied unto a tree,<br/> + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds,<br/> +And now his woven girths he breaks asunder;<br/> +The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds,<br/> +Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven’s thunder;<br/> + The iron bit he crusheth ’tween his teeth, 269<br/> + Controlling what he was controlled with.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +His ears up-prick’d; his braided hanging mane<br/> +Upon his compass’d crest now stand on end; 272<br/> +His nostrils drink the air, and forth again,<br/> +As from a furnace, vapours doth he send:<br/> + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire,<br/> + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps,<br/> +With gentle majesty and modest pride;<br/> +Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps,<br/> +As who should say, “Lo thus my strength is tried;<br/> + And this I do to captivate the eye 281<br/> + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +What recketh he his rider’s angry stir,<br/> +His flattering “Holla”, or his “Stand, I say”? 284<br/> +What cares he now for curb or pricking spur?<br/> +For rich caparisons or trappings gay?<br/> + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees,<br/> + For nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look when a painter would surpass the life,<br/> +In limning out a well-proportion’d steed,<br/> +His art with nature’s workmanship at strife,<br/> +As if the dead the living should exceed: 292<br/> + So did this horse excel a common one,<br/> + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Round-hoof’d, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long,<br/> +Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide,<br/> +High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong,<br/> +Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide:<br/> + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack,<br/> + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares;<br/> +Anon he starts at stirring of a feather:<br/> +To bid the wind a base he now prepares,<br/> +And where he run or fly they know not whether; 304<br/> + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings,<br/> + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather’d wings.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her;<br/> +She answers him as if she knew his mind, 308<br/> +Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her,<br/> +She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind,<br/> + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels,<br/> + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Then like a melancholy malcontent,<br/> +He vails his tail that like a falling plume,<br/> +Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent:<br/> +He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316<br/> + His love, perceiving how he was enrag’d,<br/> + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag’d.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +His testy master goeth about to take him,<br/> +When lo the unback’d breeder, full of fear, 320<br/> +Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him,<br/> +With her the horse, and left Adonis there:<br/> + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them,<br/> + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits,<br/> +Banning his boisterous and unruly beast;<br/> +And now the happy season once more fits<br/> +That love-sick love by pleading may be blest; 328<br/> + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong,<br/> + When it is barr’d the aidance of the tongue.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +An oven that is stopp’d, or river stay’d,<br/> +Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332<br/> +So of concealed sorrow may be said,<br/> +Free vent of words love’s fire doth assuage;<br/> + But when the heart’s attorney once is mute,<br/> + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He sees her coming, and begins to glow,<br/> +Even as a dying coal revives with wind,<br/> +And with his bonnet hides his angry brow,<br/> +Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340<br/> + Taking no notice that she is so nigh,<br/> + For all askance he holds her in his eye.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O what a sight it was, wistly to view<br/> +How she came stealing to the wayward boy, 344<br/> +To note the fighting conflict of her hue,<br/> +How white and red each other did destroy:<br/> + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by<br/> + It flash’d forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now was she just before him as he sat,<br/> +And like a lowly lover down she kneels;<br/> +With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat,<br/> +Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352<br/> + His tend’rer cheek receives her soft hand’s print,<br/> + As apt as new-fall’n snow takes any dint.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Oh what a war of looks was then between them,<br/> +Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing, 356<br/> +His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seen them,<br/> +Her eyes woo’d still, his eyes disdain’d the wooing:<br/> + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain<br/> + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361<br/> +A lily prison’d in a gaol of snow,<br/> +Or ivory in an alabaster band,<br/> +So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364<br/> + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling,<br/> + Show’d like two silver doves that sit a-billing.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Once more the engine of her thoughts began:<br/> +“O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368<br/> +Would thou wert as I am, and I a man,<br/> +My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound,<br/> + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee,<br/> + Though nothing but my body’s bane would cure thee.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Give me my hand,” saith he, “why dost thou feel it?”<br/> +“Give me my heart,” saith she, “and thou shalt have it.<br/> +O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it,<br/> +And being steel’d, soft sighs can never grave it. 376<br/> + Then love’s deep groans I never shall regard,<br/> + Because Adonis’ heart hath made mine hard.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For shame,” he cries, “let go, and let me go,<br/> +My day’s delight is past, my horse is gone, 380<br/> +And ’tis your fault I am bereft him so,<br/> +I pray you hence, and leave me here alone,<br/> + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care,<br/> + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.” 384<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus she replies: “Thy palfrey as he should,<br/> +Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire,<br/> +Affection is a coal that must be cool’d;<br/> +Else, suffer’d, it will set the heart on fire, 388<br/> + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none;<br/> + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“How like a jade he stood tied to the tree,<br/> +Servilely master’d with a leathern rein! 392<br/> +But when he saw his love, his youth’s fair fee,<br/> +He held such petty bondage in disdain;<br/> + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest,<br/> + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Who sees his true-love in her naked bed,<br/> +Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white,<br/> +But when his glutton eye so full hath fed,<br/> +His other agents aim at like delight? 400<br/> + Who is so faint that dare not be so bold<br/> + To touch the fire, the weather being cold?<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy,<br/> +And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404<br/> +To take advantage on presented joy,<br/> +Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee.<br/> + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain,<br/> + And once made perfect, never lost again.” 408<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“I know not love,” quoth he, “nor will not know it,<br/> +Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it;<br/> +’Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it;<br/> +My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412<br/> + For I have heard, it is a life in death,<br/> + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish’d?<br/> +Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416<br/> +If springing things be any jot diminish’d,<br/> +They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth;<br/> + The colt that’s back’d and burden’d being young,<br/> + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part,<br/> +And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat:<br/> +Remove your siege from my unyielding heart,<br/> +To love’s alarms it will not ope the gate: 424<br/> + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flatt’ry;<br/> + For where a heart is hard they make no batt’ry.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What! canst thou talk?” quoth she, “hast thou a tongue?<br/> +O would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428<br/> +Thy mermaid’s voice hath done me double wrong;<br/> +I had my load before, now press’d with bearing:<br/> + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding,<br/> + Ear’s deep sweet music, and heart’s deep sore wounding.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433<br/> +That inward beauty and invisible;<br/> +Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move<br/> +Each part in me that were but sensible: 436<br/> + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see,<br/> + Yet should I be in love by touching thee.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Say that the sense of feeling were bereft me,<br/> +And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440<br/> +And nothing but the very smell were left me,<br/> +Yet would my love to thee be still as much;<br/> + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling<br/> + Comes breath perfum’d, that breedeth love by smelling.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But oh what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445<br/> +Being nurse and feeder of the other four;<br/> +Would they not wish the feast might ever last,<br/> +And bid suspicion double-lock the door,<br/> + Lest jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest,<br/> + Should by his stealing in disturb the feast?” 448<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d,<br/> +Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452<br/> +Like a red morn that ever yet betoken’d<br/> +Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field,<br/> + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds,<br/> + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This ill presage advisedly she marketh:<br/> +Even as the wind is hush’d before it raineth,<br/> +Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh,<br/> +Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460<br/> + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun,<br/> + His meaning struck her ere his words begun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And at his look she flatly falleth down<br/> +For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464<br/> +A smile recures the wounding of a frown;<br/> +But blessed bankrout, that by love so thriveth!<br/> + The silly boy, believing she is dead,<br/> + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red. 468<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And all amaz’d brake off his late intent,<br/> +For sharply he did think to reprehend her,<br/> +Which cunning love did wittily prevent:<br/> +Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472<br/> + For on the grass she lies as she were slain,<br/> + Till his breath breatheth life in her again.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks,<br/> +He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476<br/> +He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks<br/> +To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr’d:<br/> + He kisses her; and she, by her good will,<br/> + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +The night of sorrow now is turn’d to day:<br/> +Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth,<br/> +Like the fair sun when in his fresh array<br/> +He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484<br/> + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky,<br/> + So is her face illumin’d with her eye.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix’d,<br/> +As if from thence they borrow’d all their shine. 488<br/> +Were never four such lamps together mix’d,<br/> +Had not his clouded with his brow’s repine;<br/> + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light<br/> + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O where am I?” quoth she, “in earth or heaven?<br/> +Or in the ocean drench’d, or in the fire?<br/> +What hour is this? or morn or weary even?<br/> +Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496<br/> + But now I liv’d, and life was death’s annoy;<br/> + But now I died, and death was lively joy.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O thou didst kill me; kill me once again:<br/> +Thy eyes’ shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500<br/> +Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain,<br/> +That they have murder’d this poor heart of mine;<br/> + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen,<br/> + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Long may they kiss each other for this cure!<br/> +Oh never let their crimson liveries wear,<br/> +And as they last, their verdure still endure,<br/> +To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508<br/> + That the star-gazers, having writ on death,<br/> + May say, the plague is banish’d by thy breath.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted,<br/> +What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512<br/> +To sell myself I can be well contented,<br/> +So thou wilt buy, and pay, and use good dealing;<br/> + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips,<br/> + Set thy seal manual on my wax-red lips. 516<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“A thousand kisses buys my heart from me;<br/> +And pay them at thy leisure, one by one,<br/> +What is ten hundred touches unto thee?<br/> +Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520<br/> + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double,<br/> + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fair queen,” quoth he, “if any love you owe me,<br/> +Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524<br/> +Before I know myself, seek not to know me;<br/> +No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears:<br/> + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast,<br/> + Or being early pluck’d, is sour to taste. 528<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Look the world’s comforter, with weary gait<br/> +His day’s hot task hath ended in the west;<br/> +The owl, night’s herald, shrieks, ’tis very late;<br/> +The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532<br/> + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven’s light<br/> + Do summon us to part, and bid good night.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Now let me say good night, and so say you;<br/> +If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.” 536<br/> +“Good night,” quoth she; and ere he says adieu,<br/> +The honey fee of parting tender’d is:<br/> + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace;<br/> + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Till breathless he disjoin’d, and backward drew<br/> +The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth,<br/> +Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew,<br/> +Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth, 544<br/> + He with her plenty press’d, she faint with dearth,<br/> + Their lips together glued, fall to the earth.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey,<br/> +And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548<br/> +Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey,<br/> +Paying what ransom the insulter willeth;<br/> + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high,<br/> + That she will draw his lips’ rich treasure dry. 552<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And having felt the sweetness of the spoil,<br/> +With blindfold fury she begins to forage;<br/> +Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil,<br/> +And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage, 556<br/> + Planting oblivion, beating reason back,<br/> + Forgetting shame’s pure blush and honour’s wrack.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing,<br/> +Like a wild bird being tam’d with too much handling,<br/> +Or as the fleet-foot roe that’s tir’d with chasing, 561<br/> +Or like the froward infant still’d with dandling:<br/> + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth,<br/> + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +What wax so frozen but dissolves with temp’ring,<br/> +And yields at last to every light impression?<br/> +Things out of hope are compass’d oft with vent’ring,<br/> +Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568<br/> + Affection faints not like a pale-fac’d coward,<br/> + But then woos best when most his choice is froward.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he did frown, O had she then gave over,<br/> +Such nectar from his lips she had not suck’d. 572<br/> +Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover;<br/> +What though the rose have prickles, yet ’tis pluck’d.<br/> + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast,<br/> + Yet love breaks through, and picks them all at last.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For pity now she can no more detain him; 577<br/> +The poor fool prays her that he may depart:<br/> +She is resolv’d no longer to restrain him,<br/> +Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580<br/> + The which by Cupid’s bow she doth protest,<br/> + He carries thence encaged in his breast.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Sweet boy,” she says, “this night I’ll waste in sorrow,<br/> +For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584<br/> +Tell me, love’s master, shall we meet tomorrow<br/> +Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?”<br/> + He tells her no, tomorrow he intends<br/> + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“The boar!” quoth she; whereat a sudden pale,<br/> +Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose,<br/> +Usurps her cheek, she trembles at his tale,<br/> +And on his neck her yoking arms she throws. 592<br/> + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck,<br/> + He on her belly falls, she on her back.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now is she in the very lists of love,<br/> +Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596<br/> +All is imaginary she doth prove,<br/> +He will not manage her, although he mount her;<br/> + That worse than Tantalus’ is her annoy,<br/> + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Even as poor birds, deceiv’d with painted grapes,<br/> +Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw:<br/> +Even so she languisheth in her mishaps,<br/> +As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604<br/> + The warm effects which she in him finds missing,<br/> + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But all in vain, good queen, it will not be,<br/> +She hath assay’d as much as may be prov’d; 608<br/> +Her pleading hath deserv’d a greater fee;<br/> +She’s love, she loves, and yet she is not lov’d.<br/> + “Fie, fie,” he says, “you crush me; let me go;<br/> + You have no reason to withhold me so.” 612<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Thou hadst been gone,” quoth she, “sweet boy, ere this,<br/> +But that thou told’st me thou wouldst hunt the boar.<br/> +Oh be advis’d; thou know’st not what it is,<br/> +With javelin’s point a churlish swine to gore, 616<br/> + Whose tushes never sheath’d he whetteth still,<br/> + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“On his bow-back he hath a battle set<br/> +Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620<br/> +His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret;<br/> +His snout digs sepulchres where’er he goes;<br/> + Being mov’d, he strikes whate’er is in his way,<br/> + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“His brawny sides, with hairy bristles armed,<br/> +Are better proof than thy spear’s point can enter;<br/> +His short thick neck cannot be easily harmed;<br/> +Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628<br/> + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes,<br/> + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Alas! he naught esteems that face of thine,<br/> +To which love’s eyes pay tributary gazes; 632<br/> +Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne,<br/> +Whose full perfection all the world amazes;<br/> + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread!<br/> + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still, 637<br/> +Beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends:<br/> +Come not within his danger by thy will;<br/> +They that thrive well, take counsel of their friends.<br/> + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble,<br/> + I fear’d thy fortune, and my joints did tremble.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Didst thou not mark my face, was it not white?<br/> +Saw’st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644<br/> +Grew I not faint, and fell I not downright?<br/> +Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie,<br/> + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest,<br/> + But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For where love reigns, disturbing jealousy 649<br/> +Doth call himself affection’s sentinel;<br/> +Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny,<br/> +And in a peaceful hour doth cry “Kill, kill!” 652<br/> + Distemp’ring gentle love in his desire,<br/> + As air and water do abate the fire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy,<br/> +This canker that eats up love’s tender spring, 656<br/> +This carry-tale, dissentious jealousy,<br/> +That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring,<br/> + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear,<br/> + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear. 660<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And more than so, presenteth to mine eye<br/> +The picture of an angry chafing boar,<br/> +Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie<br/> +An image like thyself, all stain’d with gore; 664<br/> + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed,<br/> + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What should I do, seeing thee so indeed,<br/> +That tremble at th’imagination? 668<br/> +The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed,<br/> +And fear doth teach it divination:<br/> + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow,<br/> + If thou encounter with the boar tomorrow. 672<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul’d by me;<br/> +Uncouple at the timorous flying hare,<br/> +Or at the fox which lives by subtilty,<br/> +Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676<br/> + Pursue these fearful creatures o’er the downs,<br/> + And on thy well-breath’d horse keep with thy hounds.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare,<br/> +Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680<br/> +How he outruns the wind, and with what care<br/> +He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles:<br/> + The many musits through the which he goes<br/> + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep,<br/> +To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell,<br/> +And sometime where earth-delving conies keep,<br/> +To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688<br/> + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer;<br/> + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“For there his smell with others being mingled, 691<br/> +The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt,<br/> +Ceasing their clamorous cry, till they have singled<br/> +With much ado the cold fault cleanly out;<br/> + Then do they spend their mouths: echo replies,<br/> + As if another chase were in the skies. 696<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill,<br/> +Stands on his hinder legs with list’ning ear,<br/> +To hearken if his foes pursue him still.<br/> +Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700<br/> + And now his grief may be compared well<br/> + To one sore sick that hears the passing bell.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch<br/> +Turn, and return, indenting with the way, 704<br/> +Each envious briar his weary legs do scratch,<br/> +Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay:<br/> + For misery is trodden on by many,<br/> + And being low never reliev’d by any. 708<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Lie quietly, and hear a little more;<br/> +Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise:<br/> +To make thee hate the hunting of the boar,<br/> +Unlike myself thou hear’st me moralize, 712<br/> + Applying this to that, and so to so,<br/> + For love can comment upon every woe.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Where did I leave?” “No matter where,” quoth he<br/> +“Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716<br/> +The night is spent.” “Why, what of that?” quoth she.<br/> +“I am,” quoth he, “expected of my friends;<br/> + And now ’tis dark, and going I shall fall.”<br/> + “In night,” quoth she, “desire sees best of all.” 720<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +But if thou fall, oh then imagine this,<br/> +The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips,<br/> +And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723<br/> +Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips<br/> + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn,<br/> + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Now of this dark night I perceive the reason:<br/> +Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728<br/> +Till forging nature be condemn’d of treason,<br/> +For stealing moulds from heaven, that were divine;<br/> + Wherein she fram’d thee, in high heaven’s despite,<br/> + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And therefore hath she brib’d the destinies,<br/> +To cross the curious workmanship of nature,<br/> +To mingle beauty with infirmities,<br/> +And pure perfection with impure defeature, 736<br/> + Making it subject to the tyranny<br/> + Of mad mischances and much misery.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“As burning fevers, agues pale and faint,<br/> +Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740<br/> +The marrow-eating sickness, whose attaint<br/> +Disorder breeds by heating of the blood;<br/> + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn’d despair,<br/> + Swear nature’s death, for framing thee so fair. 744<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And not the least of all these maladies<br/> +But in one minute’s fight brings beauty under:<br/> +Both favour, savour, hue and qualities,<br/> +Whereat th’impartial gazer late did wonder, 748<br/> + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw’d and done,<br/> + As mountain snow melts with the midday sun.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Therefore despite of fruitless chastity,<br/> +Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752<br/> +That on the earth would breed a scarcity<br/> +And barren dearth of daughters and of sons,<br/> + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night<br/> + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What is thy body but a swallowing grave,<br/> +Seeming to bury that posterity,<br/> +Which by the rights of time thou needs must have,<br/> +If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760<br/> + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain,<br/> + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“So in thyself thyself art made away;<br/> +A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764<br/> +Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay,<br/> +Or butcher sire that reeves his son of life.<br/> + Foul cank’ring rust the hidden treasure frets,<br/> + But gold that’s put to use more gold begets.” 768<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Nay then,” quoth Adon, “you will fall again<br/> +Into your idle over-handled theme;<br/> +The kiss I gave you is bestow’d in vain,<br/> +And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772<br/> + For by this black-fac’d night, desire’s foul nurse,<br/> + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues,<br/> +And every tongue more moving than your own, 776<br/> +Bewitching like the wanton mermaid’s songs,<br/> +Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown;<br/> + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear,<br/> + And will not let a false sound enter there. 780<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Lest the deceiving harmony should run<br/> +Into the quiet closure of my breast,<br/> +And then my little heart were quite undone,<br/> +In his bedchamber to be barr’d of rest. 784<br/> + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan,<br/> + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“What have you urg’d that I cannot reprove?<br/> +The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790<br/> +I hate not love, but your device in love<br/> +That lends embracements unto every stranger.<br/> + You do it for increase: O strange excuse!<br/> + When reason is the bawd to lust’s abuse. 792<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Call it not love, for love to heaven is fled,<br/> +Since sweating lust on earth usurp’d his name;<br/> +Under whose simple semblance he hath fed<br/> +Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796<br/> + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves,<br/> + As caterpillars do the tender leaves.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain,<br/> +But lust’s effect is tempest after sun; 800<br/> +Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain,<br/> +Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done.<br/> + Love surfeits not, lust like a glutton dies;<br/> + Love is all truth, lust full of forged lies. 804<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“More I could tell, but more I dare not say;<br/> +The text is old, the orator too green.<br/> +Therefore, in sadness, now I will away;<br/> +My face is full of shame, my heart of teen, 808<br/> + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended<br/> + Do burn themselves for having so offended.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811<br/> +Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast,<br/> +And homeward through the dark laund runs apace;<br/> +Leaves love upon her back deeply distress’d.<br/> + Look how a bright star shooteth from the sky,<br/> + So glides he in the night from Venus’ eye. 816<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Which after him she darts, as one on shore<br/> +Gazing upon a late embarked friend,<br/> +Till the wild waves will have him seen no more,<br/> +Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820<br/> + So did the merciless and pitchy night<br/> + Fold in the object that did feed her sight.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat amaz’d, as one that unaware<br/> +Hath dropp’d a precious jewel in the flood, 824<br/> +Or ’stonish’d as night-wanderers often are,<br/> +Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood;<br/> + Even so confounded in the dark she lay,<br/> + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans,<br/> +That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled,<br/> +Make verbal repetition of her moans;<br/> +Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832<br/> + “Ay me!” she cries, and twenty times, “Woe, woe!”<br/> + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She marking them, begins a wailing note,<br/> +And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836<br/> +How love makes young men thrall, and old men dote,<br/> +How love is wise in folly foolish witty:<br/> + Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe,<br/> + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Her song was tedious, and outwore the night,<br/> +For lovers’ hours are long, though seeming short,<br/> +If pleas’d themselves, others they think, delight<br/> +In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844<br/> + Their copious stories oftentimes begun,<br/> + End without audience, and are never done.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For who hath she to spend the night withal,<br/> +But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848<br/> +Like shrill-tongu’d tapsters answering every call,<br/> +Soothing the humour of fantastic wits?<br/> + She says, “’Tis so:” they answer all, “’Tis so;”<br/> + And would say after her, if she said “No.” 852<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Lo here the gentle lark, weary of rest,<br/> +From his moist cabinet mounts up on high,<br/> +And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast<br/> +The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856<br/> + Who doth the world so gloriously behold,<br/> + That cedar tops and hills seem burnish’d gold.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow:<br/> +“Oh thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860<br/> +From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow<br/> +The beauteous influence that makes him bright,<br/> + There lives a son that suck’d an earthly mother,<br/> + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865<br/> +Musing the morning is so much o’erworn,<br/> +And yet she hears no tidings of her love;<br/> +She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn. 868<br/> + Anon she hears them chant it lustily,<br/> + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And as she runs, the bushes in the way<br/> +Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872<br/> +Some twine about her thigh to make her stay:<br/> +She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace,<br/> + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache,<br/> + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this she hears the hounds are at a bay,<br/> +Whereat she starts like one that spies an adder<br/> +Wreath’d up in fatal folds just in his way,<br/> +The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; 880<br/> + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds<br/> + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +For now she knows it is no gentle chase,<br/> +But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884<br/> +Because the cry remaineth in one place,<br/> +Where fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud,<br/> + Finding their enemy to be so curst,<br/> + They all strain court’sy who shall cope him first. 888<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear,<br/> +Through which it enters to surprise her heart;<br/> +Who overcome by doubt and bloodless fear,<br/> +With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; 892<br/> + Like soldiers when their captain once doth yield,<br/> + They basely fly and dare not stay the field.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy,<br/> +Till cheering up her senses sore dismay’d, 896<br/> +She tells them ’tis a causeless fantasy,<br/> +And childish error, that they are afraid;<br/> + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more:<br/> + And with that word, she spied the hunted boar. 900<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red,<br/> +Like milk and blood being mingled both together,<br/> +A second fear through all her sinews spread,<br/> +Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904<br/> + This way she runs, and now she will no further,<br/> + But back retires, to rate the boar for murther.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways,<br/> +She treads the path that she untreads again; 908<br/> +Her more than haste is mated with delays,<br/> +Like the proceedings of a drunken brain,<br/> + Full of respects, yet naught at all respecting,<br/> + In hand with all things, naught at all effecting.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Here kennel’d in a brake she finds a hound, 913<br/> +And asks the weary caitiff for his master,<br/> +And there another licking of his wound,<br/> +’Gainst venom’d sores the only sovereign plaster. 916<br/> + And here she meets another sadly scowling,<br/> + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +When he hath ceas’d his ill-resounding noise,<br/> +Another flap-mouth’d mourner, black and grim, 920<br/> +Against the welkin volleys out his voice;<br/> +Another and another answer him,<br/> + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below,<br/> + Shaking their scratch’d ears, bleeding as they go.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Look how the world’s poor people are amazed 925<br/> +At apparitions, signs, and prodigies,<br/> +Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed,<br/> +Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928<br/> + So she at these sad signs draws up her breath,<br/> + And sighing it again, exclaims on death.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Hard-favour’d tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931<br/> +Hateful divorce of love,” thus chides she death,<br/> +“Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean?<br/> +To stifle beauty and to steal his breath,<br/> + Who when he liv’d, his breath and beauty set<br/> + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet. 936<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“If he be dead, O no, it cannot be,<br/> +Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it,<br/> +O yes, it may, thou hast no eyes to see,<br/> +But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940<br/> + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart<br/> + Mistakes that aim, and cleaves an infant’s heart.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke,<br/> +And hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944<br/> +The destinies will curse thee for this stroke;<br/> +They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck’st a flower.<br/> + Love’s golden arrow at him should have fled,<br/> + And not death’s ebon dart to strike him dead. 948<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok’st such weeping?<br/> +What may a heavy groan advantage thee?<br/> +Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping<br/> +Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952<br/> + Now nature cares not for thy mortal vigour,<br/> + Since her best work is ruin’d with thy rigour.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Here overcome, as one full of despair,<br/> +She vail’d her eyelids, who like sluices stopp’d 956<br/> +The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair<br/> +In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp’d<br/> + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain,<br/> + And with his strong course opens them again. 960<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow;<br/> +Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye;<br/> +Both crystals, where they view’d each other’s sorrow,<br/> +Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964<br/> + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain,<br/> + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Variable passions throng her constant woe,<br/> +As striving who should best become her grief; 968<br/> +All entertain’d, each passion labours so,<br/> +That every present sorrow seemeth chief,<br/> + But none is best, then join they all together,<br/> + Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this, far off she hears some huntsman holla;<br/> +A nurse’s song ne’er pleas’d her babe so well:<br/> +The dire imagination she did follow<br/> +This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976<br/> + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice,<br/> + And flatters her it is Adonis’ voice.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat her tears began to turn their tide,<br/> +Being prison’d in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980<br/> +Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside,<br/> +Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass<br/> + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground,<br/> + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown’d.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +O hard-believing love, how strange it seems 985<br/> +Not to believe, and yet too credulous;<br/> +Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes;<br/> +Despair and hope make thee ridiculous, 988<br/> + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely,<br/> + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought,<br/> +Adonis lives, and death is not to blame; 992<br/> +It was not she that call’d him all to naught;<br/> +Now she adds honours to his hateful name.<br/> + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings,<br/> + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“No, no,” quoth she, “sweet death, I did but jest;<br/> +Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear<br/> +Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast,<br/> +Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000<br/> + Then, gentle shadow,—truth I must confess—<br/> + I rail’d on thee, fearing my love’s decease.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“’Tis not my fault, the boar provok’d my tongue;<br/> +Be wreak’d on him, invisible commander; 1004<br/> +’Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong;<br/> +I did but act, he’s author of my slander.<br/> + Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet,<br/> + Could rule them both, without ten women’s wit.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009<br/> +Her rash suspect she doth extenuate;<br/> +And that his beauty may the better thrive,<br/> +With death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012<br/> + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs and stories<br/> + His victories, his triumphs and his glories.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“O love!” quoth she, “how much a fool was I,<br/> +To be of such a weak and silly mind, 1016<br/> +To wail his death who lives, and must not die<br/> +Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind;<br/> + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain,<br/> + And beauty dead, black Chaos comes again. 1020<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Fie, fie, fond love, thou art as full of fear<br/> +As one with treasure laden, hemm’d with thieves,<br/> +Trifles unwitnessed with eye or ear,<br/> +Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.” 1024<br/> + Even at this word she hears a merry horn,<br/> + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +As falcon to the lure, away she flies;<br/> +The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light, 1028<br/> +And in her haste unfortunately spies<br/> +The foul boar’s conquest on her fair delight;<br/> + Which seen, her eyes, as murder’d with the view,<br/> + Like stars asham’d of day, themselves withdrew.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Or as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033<br/> +Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain,<br/> +And there all smother’d up, in shade doth sit,<br/> +Long after fearing to creep forth again: 1036<br/> + So at his bloody view her eyes are fled<br/> + Into the deep dark cabins of her head.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Where they resign their office and their light<br/> +To the disposing of her troubled brain, 1040<br/> +Who bids them still consort with ugly night,<br/> +And never wound the heart with looks again;<br/> + Who like a king perplexed in his throne,<br/> + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan. 1044<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Whereat each tributary subject quakes,<br/> +As when the wind imprison’d in the ground,<br/> +Struggling for passage, earth’s foundation shakes,<br/> +Which with cold terror doth men’s minds confound.<br/> + This mutiny each part doth so surprise 1049<br/> + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +And being open’d, threw unwilling light<br/> +Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench’d<br/> +In his soft flank, whose wonted lily white 1053<br/> +With purple tears that his wound wept, was drench’d.<br/> + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf or weed,<br/> + But stole his blood and seem’d with him to bleed.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057<br/> +Over one shoulder doth she hang her head,<br/> +Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth;<br/> +She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060<br/> + Her voice is stopp’d, her joints forget to bow,<br/> + Her eyes are mad, that they have wept till now.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly,<br/> +That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three;<br/> +And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065<br/> +That makes more gashes, where no breach should be:<br/> + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled,<br/> + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069<br/> +And yet,” quoth she, “behold two Adons dead!<br/> +My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone,<br/> +Mine eyes are turn’d to fire, my heart to lead: 1072<br/> + Heavy heart’s lead, melt at mine eyes’ red fire!<br/> + So shall I die by drops of hot desire.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Alas poor world, what treasure hast thou lost!<br/> +What face remains alive that’s worth the viewing?<br/> +Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast<br/> +Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078<br/> + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim,<br/> + But true sweet beauty liv’d and died with him.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081<br/> +Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you:<br/> +Having no fair to lose, you need not fear;<br/> +The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you.<br/> + But when Adonis liv’d, sun and sharp air 1085<br/> + Lurk’d like two thieves, to rob him of his fair.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“And therefore would he put his bonnet on,<br/> +Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088<br/> +The wind would blow it off, and being gone,<br/> +Play with his locks; then would Adonis weep;<br/> + And straight, in pity of his tender years,<br/> + They both would strive who first should dry his tears.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“To see his face the lion walk’d along 1093<br/> +Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him;<br/> +To recreate himself when he hath sung,<br/> +The tiger would be tame and gently hear him. 1096<br/> + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey,<br/> + And never fright the silly lamb that day.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“When he beheld his shadow in the brook,<br/> +The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100<br/> +When he was by, the birds such pleasure took,<br/> +That some would sing, some other in their bills<br/> + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries,<br/> + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“But this foul, grim, and urchin-snouted boar, 1105<br/> +Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave,<br/> +Ne’er saw the beauteous livery that he wore;<br/> +Witness the entertainment that he gave. 1108<br/> + If he did see his face, why then I know<br/> + He thought to kiss him, and hath kill’d him so.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“’Tis true, ’tis true; thus was Adonis slain:<br/> +He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112<br/> +Who did not whet his teeth at him again,<br/> +But by a kiss thought to persuade him there;<br/> + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine<br/> + Sheath’d unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Had I been tooth’d like him, I must confess,<br/> +With kissing him I should have kill’d him first;<br/> +But he is dead, and never did he bless<br/> +My youth with his; the more am I accurst.” 1120<br/> + With this she falleth in the place she stood,<br/> + And stains her face with his congealed blood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She looks upon his lips, and they are pale;<br/> +She takes him by the hand, and that is cold, 1124<br/> +She whispers in his ears a heavy tale,<br/> +As if they heard the woeful words she told;<br/> +She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes,<br/> +Where lo, two lamps burnt out in darkness lies.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129<br/> +A thousand times, and now no more reflect;<br/> +Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell’d,<br/> +And every beauty robb’d of his effect. 1132<br/> + “Wonder of time,” quoth she, “this is my spite,<br/> + That thou being dead, the day should yet be light.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Since thou art dead, lo here I prophesy,<br/> +Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136<br/> +It shall be waited on with jealousy,<br/> +Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end;<br/> + Ne’er settled equally, but high or low,<br/> + That all love’s pleasure shall not match his woe.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be fickle, false and full of fraud, 1141<br/> +Bud, and be blasted in a breathing while;<br/> +The bottom poison, and the top o’erstraw’d<br/> +With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile. 1144<br/> + The strongest body shall it make most weak,<br/> + Strike the wise dumb, and teach the fool to speak.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be sparing, and too full of riot,<br/> +Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148<br/> +The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet,<br/> +Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures;<br/> + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild,<br/> + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall suspect where is no cause of fear,<br/> +It shall not fear where it should most mistrust;<br/> +It shall be merciful, and too severe,<br/> +And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156<br/> + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward,<br/> + Put fear to valour, courage to the coward.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“It shall be cause of war and dire events,<br/> +And set dissension ’twixt the son and sire; 1160<br/> +Subject and servile to all discontents,<br/> +As dry combustious matter is to fire,<br/> + Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy,<br/> + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.” 1164<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +By this the boy that by her side lay kill’d<br/> +Was melted like a vapour from her sight,<br/> +And in his blood that on the ground lay spill’d,<br/> +A purple flower sprung up, chequer’d with white, 1168<br/> + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood<br/> + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell,<br/> +Comparing it to her Adonis’ breath; 1172<br/> +And says within her bosom it shall dwell,<br/> +Since he himself is reft from her by death;<br/> + She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears<br/> + Green-dropping sap, which she compares to tears.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Poor flower,” quoth she, “this was thy father’s guise,<br/> +Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire,<br/> +For every little grief to wet his eyes,<br/> +To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180<br/> + And so ’tis thine; but know, it is as good<br/> + To wither in my breast as in his blood.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Here was thy father’s bed, here in my breast;<br/> +Thou art the next of blood, and ’tis thy right: 1184<br/> +Lo in this hollow cradle take thy rest,<br/> +My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night:<br/> + There shall not be one minute in an hour<br/> + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love’s flower.”<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189<br/> +And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid<br/> +Their mistress mounted through the empty skies,<br/> +In her light chariot quickly is convey’d; 1192<br/> + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen<br/> + Means to immure herself and not be seen.<br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +FINIS +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Venus and Adonis + +Author: William Shakespeare + +Posting Date: August 10, 2008 [EBook #1045] +Release Date: September, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +VENUS AND ADONIS + +by William Shakespeare + + + 'Villa miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo + Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.' + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, + +EARL OF SOUHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD. + +RIGHT HONOURABLE, + +I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your +lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a +prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if your honour seem but +pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of +all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But if +the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had +so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it +yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, +and your honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer +your own wish and the world's hopeful expectation. + +Your honour's in all duty, + +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. + + + + + +VENUS AND ADONIS + + + EVEN as the sun with purple-colour'd face + Had ta'en his last leave of the weeping morn, + Rose-cheek'd Adonis tried him to the chase; + Hunting he lov'd, but love he laugh'd to scorn; 4 + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, + And like a bold-fac'd suitor 'gins to woo him. + + 'Thrice fairer than myself,' thus she began, + 'The field's chief flower, sweet above compare, 8 + Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man, + More white and red than doves or roses are; + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12 + + 'Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, + And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow; + If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed + A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16 + Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses; + And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses: + + 'And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety, + But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20 + Making them red and pale with fresh variety; + Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: + A summer's day will seem an hour but short, + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.' 24 + + With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, + The precedent of pith and livelihood, + And, trembling in her passion, calls it balm, + Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28 + Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force + Courageously to pluck him from his horse. + + Over one arm the lusty courser's rein + Under her other was the tender boy, 32 + Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain, + With leaden appetite, unapt to toy; + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36 + + The studded bridle on a ragged bough + Nimbly she fastens;--O! how quick is love:-- + The steed is stalled up, and even now + To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40 + Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust, + And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust. + + So soon was she along, as he was down, + Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44 + Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, + And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips; + And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, + 'If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.' 48 + + He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears + Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; + Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs + To fan and blow them dry again she seeks: 52 + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss; + What follows more she murders with a kiss. + + Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, + Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56 + Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste, + Till either gorge be stuff'd or prey be gone; + Even so she kiss'd his brow, his cheek, his chin, + And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60 + + Forc'd to content, but never to obey, + Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face; + She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey, + And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace; 64 + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers + So they were dewd with such distilling showers. + + Look! how a bird lies tangled in a net, + So fasten'd in her arms Adonis lies; 68 + Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret, + Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes: + Rain added to a river that is rank + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72 + + + Still she entreats, and prettily entreats, + For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale; + Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets, + 'Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy-pale; 76 + Being red she loves him best; and being white, + Her best is better'd with a more delight. + + Look how he can, she cannot choose but love; + And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80 + From his soft bosom never to remove, + Till he take truce with her contending tears, + Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all wet; + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt. + + Upon this promise did he raise his chin 85 + Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave, + Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in; + So offers he to give what she did crave; 88 + But when her lips were ready for his pay, + He winks, and turns his lips another way. + + Never did passenger in summer's heat + More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92 + Her help she sees, but help she cannot get; + She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: + 'O! pity,' 'gan she cry, 'flint-hearted boy: + 'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96 + + 'I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, + Even by the stern and direful god of war, + Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow, + Who conquers where he comes in every jar; 100 + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, + And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. + + 'Over my altars hath he hung his lance, + His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104 + And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance + To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108 + + 'Thus he that overrul'd I oversway'd, + Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain: + Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey'd, + Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112 + O! be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, + For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight. + + Touch but my lips with those falr lips of thine,-- + Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red,-- 116 + The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine: + What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head: + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies; + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120 + + 'Art thou asham'd to kiss? then wink again, + And I will wink; so shall the day seem night; + Love keeps his revels where there are but twain; + Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight: 124 + These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean. + + 'The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127 + Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be tasted: + Make use of time, let not advantage slip; + Beauty within itself should not be wasted: + Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime + Rot and consume themselves in little time. 132 + + 'Were I hard-favour'd, foul, or wrinkled-old, + Ill-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, + O'erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold, + Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136 + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; + But having no defects, why dost abhor me? + + 'Thou canst not see one winkle in my brow; 139 + Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning; + My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow; + My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning; + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt. + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144 + + 'Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear, + Or like a fairy, trip upon the green, + Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell'd hair, + Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen: 148 + Love is a spirit all compact of fire, + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. + + 'Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie; 151 + These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; + Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky, + From morn till night, even where I list to sport me: + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156 + + 'Is thine own heart to shine own face affected? + Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left? + Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected, + Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160 + Narcissus so himself himself forsook, + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. + + 'Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, + Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164 + Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear; + Things growing to themselves are growth's abuse: + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty; + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168 + + 'Upon the earth's increase why shouldst thou feed, + Unless the earth with thy increase be fed? + By law of nature thou art bound to breed, + That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172 + And so in spite of death thou dost survive, + In that thy likeness still is left alive.' + + By this the love-sick queen began to sweat, + For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176 + And Titan, tired in the mid-day heat + With burning eye did hotly overlook them, + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide, + So he were like him and by Venus' side. 180 + + And now Adonis with a lazy spright, + And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye, + His louring brows o'erwhelming his fair sight, + Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184 + Souring his cheeks, cries, 'Fie! no more of love: + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.' + + 'Ay me,' quoth Venus, 'young, and so unkind! + What bare excuses mak'st thou to be gone! 188 + I'll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind + Shall cool the heat of this descending sun: + I'll make a shadow for thee of my hairs; 191 + If they burn too, I'll quench them with my tears. + + 'The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm, + And lo! I lie between that sun and thee: + The heat I have from thence doth little harm, + Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196 + And were I not immortal, life were done + Between this heavenly and earthly sun. + + 'Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel? + Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200 + Art thou a woman's son, and canst not feel + What 'tis to love? how want of love tormenteth? + O! had thy mother borne so hard a mind, 203 + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. + + + 'What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this? + Or what great danger dwells upon my suit? + What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? + Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: + Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again, 209 + And one for interest if thou wilt have twain. + + 'Fie! lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone, + Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212 + Statue contenting but the eye alone, + Thing like a man, but of no woman bred: + Thou art no man, though of a man's complexion, + For men will kiss even by their own direction.' 216 + + This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue, + And swelling passion doth provoke a pause; + Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong; + Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause: 220 + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak, + And now her sobs do her intendments break. + + Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand; + Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224 + Sometimes her arms infold him like a band: + She would, he will not in her arms be bound; + And when from thence he struggles to be gone, + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228 + + 'Fondling,' she saith, 'since I have hemm'd thee here + Within the circuit of this ivory pale, + I'll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer; + Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232 + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry, + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. + + 'Within this limit is relief enough, + Sweet bottom-grass and high delightful plain, 236 + Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, + To shelter thee from tempest and from rain: + Then be my deer, since I am such a park; 239 + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.' + + At this Adonis smiles as in disdain, + That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple: + Love made those hollows, if himself were slain, + He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244 + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie, + Why, there Love liv'd, and there he could not die. + + These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits, + Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking. 248 + Being mad before, how doth she now for wits? + Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking? + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn, + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252 + + Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say? + Her words are done, her woes the more increasing; + The time is spent, her object will away, + And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256 + 'Pity,' she cries; 'some favour, some remorse!' + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse. + + But lo! from forth a copse that neighbours by, + A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260 + Adonis' tramping courier doth espy, + And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud: + The strong-neck'd steed, being tied unto a tree, + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264 + + Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, + And now his woven girths he breaks asunder; + The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds, + Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven's thunder; + The iron bit he crusheth 'tween his teeth, 269 + Controlling what he was controlled with. + + His ears up-prick'd; his braided hanging mane + Upon his compass'd crest now stand on end; 272 + His nostrils drink the air, and forth again, + As from a furnace, vapours doth he send: + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire, + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276 + + Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps, + With gentle majesty and modest pride; + Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps, + As who should say, 'Lo! thus my strength is tried; + And this I do to captivate the eye 281 + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.' + + What recketh he his rider's angry stir, + His flattering 'Holla', or his 'Stand, I say'? 284 + What cares he now for curb or pricking spur? + For rich caparisons or trapping gay? + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees, + Nor nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288 + + Look, when a painter would surpass the life, + In limning out a well-proportion'd steed, + His art with nature's workmanship at strife, + As if the dead the living should exceed; 292 + So did this horse excel a common one, + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone. + + Round-hoof'd, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, + Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide, + High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong, + Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide: + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack, + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300 + + Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares; + Anon he starts at stirring of a feather; + To bid the wind a base he now prepares, + And whe'r he run or fly they know not whether; 304 + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings, + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather'd wings. + + He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her; + She answers him as if she knew his mind; 308 + Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her, + She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind, + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels, + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312 + + Then, like a melancholy malcontent, + He vails his tail, that, like a falling plume, + Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent: + He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316 + His love, perceiving how he is enrag'd, + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag'd. + + His testy master goeth about to take him; + When lo! the unback'd breeder, full of fear, 320 + Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him, + With her the horse, and left Adonis there: + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them, + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324 + + All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits, + Banning his boisterous and unruly beast: + And now the happy season once more fits, + That love-sick Love by pleading may be blest; 328 + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong + When it is barr'd the aidance of the tongue. + + An oven that is stopp'd, or river stay'd, + Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332 + So of concealed sorrow may be said; + Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage; + But when the heart's attorney once is mute + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336 + + He sees her coming, and begins to glow,-- + Even as a dying coal revives with wind,-- + And with his bonnet hides his angry brow; + Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340 + Taking no notice that she is so nigh, + For all askance he holds her in his eye. + + O! what a sight it was, wistly to view + How she came stealing to the wayward boy; 344 + To note the fighting conflict of her hue, + How white and red each other did destroy: + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by + It flash'd forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348 + + Now was she just before him as he sat, + And like a lowly lover down she kneels; + With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat, + Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352 + His tenderer cheek receives her soft hand's print, + As apt as new-fall'n snow takes any dint. + + O! what a war of looks was then between them; + Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing; 356 + His eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen them; + Her eyes woo'd still, his eyes disdain'd the wooing: + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain. + + Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361 + A lily prison'd in a gaol of snow, + Or ivory in an alabaster band; + So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364 + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, + Show'd like two silver doves that sit a-billing. + + Once more the engine of her thoughts began: + 'O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368 + Would thou wert as I am, and I a man, + My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound; + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee, + Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee.' + + 'Give me my hand,' saith he, 'why dost thou feel it?' + 'Give me my heart,' saith she, 'and thou shalt have it; + O! give it me, lest thy hard heart do steel it, + And being steel'd, soft sighs can never grave it: 376 + Then love's deep groans I never shall regard, + Because Adonis' heart hath made mine hard.' + + 'For shame,' he cries, 'let go, and let me go; + My day's delight is past, my horse is gone, 380 + And 'tis your fault I am bereft him so: + I pray you hence, and leave me here alone: + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care, + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.' 384 + + Thus she replies: 'Thy palfrey, as he should, + Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire: + Affection is a coal that must be cool'd; + Else, suffer'd, it will set the heart on fire: 388 + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none; + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone. + + 'How like a Jade he stood, tied to the tree, + Servilely master'd with a leathern rein! 392 + But when he saw his love, his youth's fair fee, + He held such petty bondage in disdain; + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest, + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396 + + 'Who sees his true-love in her naked bed, + Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white, + But, when his glutton eye so full hath fed, + His other agents aim at like delight? 400 + Who is so faint, that dare not be so bold + To touch the fire, the weather being cold? + + 'Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy; + And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404 + To take advantage on presented joy + Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee. + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain, + And once made perfect, never lost again. 408 + + 'I know not love,' quoth he, 'nor will not know it, + Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it; + 'Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it; + My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412 + For I have heard it is a life in death, + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath. + + 'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd? + Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416 + If springing things be any jot diminish'd, + They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth; + The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420 + + 'You hurt my hand with wringing. Let us part, + And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat: + Remove your siege from my unyielding heart; + To love's alarms it will not ope the gate: 424 + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flattery; + For where a heart is hard they make no battery.' + + 'What! canst thou talk?' quoth she, 'hast thou a tongue? + O! would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428 + Thy mermaid's voice hath done me double wrong; + I had my load before, now press'd with bearing: + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding, + Ear's deep-sweet music, and heart's deep-sore wounding. + + 'Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433 + That inward beauty and invisible; + Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move + Each part in me that were but sensible: 436 + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, + Yet should I be in love by touching thee. + + 'Say, that the sense of feeling were bereft me, + And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440 + And nothing but the very smell were left me, + Yet would my love to thee be still as much; + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling + Comes breath perfum'd that breedeth love by smelling. + + 'But O! what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445 + Being nurse and feeder of the other four; + Would they not wish the feast might ever last, + And bid Suspicion double-lock the door, + Lest Jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest, + Should, by his stealing in, disturb the feast?' 448 + + Once more the ruby-colour'd portal open'd, + Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452 + Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd + Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field, + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds, + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456 + + This ill presage advisedly she marketh: + Even as the wind is hush'd before it raineth, + Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh, + Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460 + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun, + His meaning struck her ere his words begun. + + And at his look she flatly falleth down + For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464 + A smile recures the wounding of a frown; + But blessed bankrupt, that by love so thriveth! + The silly boy, believing she is dead + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red; 468 + + And all amaz'd brake off his late intent, + For sharply he did think to reprehend her, + Which cunning love did wittily prevent: + Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472 + For on the grass she lies as she were slain + Till his breath breatheth life in her again. + + He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks, + He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476 + He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks + To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr'd: + He kisses her; and she, by her good will, + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480 + + The night of sorrow now is turn'd to day: + Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth, + Like the fair sun, when in his fresh array + He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484 + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky, + So is her face illumin'd with her eye; + + Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix'd, + As if from thence they borrow'd all their shine. 488 + Were never four such lamps together mix'd, + Had not his clouded with his brow's repine; + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492 + + 'O! where am I?' quoth she, 'in earth or heaven, + Or in the ocean drench'd, or in the fire? + What hour is this? or morn or weary even? + Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496 + But now I liv'd, and life was death's annoy; + But now I died, and death was lively joy. + + 'O! thou didst kill me; kill me once again: + Thy eyes' shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500 + Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain, + That they have murder'd this poor heart of mine; + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen, + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504 + + 'Long may they kiss each other for this cure! + O! never let their crimson liveries wear; + And as they last, their verdure still endure, + To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508 + That the star-gazers, having writ on death, + May say, the plague is banish'd by thy breath. + + 'Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted, + What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512 + To sell myself I can be well contented, + So thou wilt buy and pay and use good dealing; + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips + Set thy seal-manual on my wax-red lips. 516 + + 'A thousand kisses buys my heart from me; + And pay them at thy leisure, one by one. + What is ten hundred touches unto thee? + Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520 + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double, + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?' + + 'Fair queen,' quoth he, 'if any love you owe me, + Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524 + Before I know myself, seek not to know me; + No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears: + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast, + Or being early pluck'd is sour to taste. 528 + + 'Look! the world's comforter, with weary gait + His day's hot task hath ended in the west; + The owl, night's herald, shrieks, 'tis very late; + The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532 + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven's light + Do summon us to part, and bid good night. + + 'Now let me say good night, and so say you; + If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.' 536 + 'Good night,' quoth she; and ere he says adieu, + The honey fee of parting tender'd is: + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace; + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540 + + Till, breathless, he disjoin'd, and backward drew + The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth, + Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew, + Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth: 544 + He with her plenty press'd, she faint with dearth, + Their lips together glu'd, fall to the earth. + + Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey, + And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548 + Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey, + Paying what ransom the insulter willeth; + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high, + That she will draw his lips' rich treasure dry. 552 + + And having felt the sweetness of the spoil, + With blindfold fury she begins to forage; + Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil, + And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage; 556 + Planting oblivion, beating reason back, + Forgetting shame's pure blush and honour's wrack. + + Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing, + Like a wild bird being tam'd with too much handling, + Or as the fleet-foot roe that's tir'd with chasing, 561 + Or like the froward infant still'd with dandling, + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth, + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564 + + What wax so frozen but dissolves with tempering, + And yields at last to every light impression? + Things out of hope are compass'd oft with venturing, + Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568 + Affection faints not like a pale-fac'd coward, + But then woos best when most his choice is froward. + + When he did frown, O! had she then gave over, + Such nectar from his lips she had not suck'd. 572 + Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover; + What though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis pluck'd: + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast, + Yet love breaks through and picks them all at last. + + For pity now she can no more detain him; 577 + The poor fool prays her that he may depart: + She is resolv'd no longer to restrain him, + Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580 + The which, by Cupid's bow she doth protest, + He carries thence incaged in his breast. + + 'Sweet boy,' she says, 'this night I'll waste in sorrow, + For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584 + Tell me, Love's master, shall we meet to-morrow + Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?' + He tells her, no; to-morrow he intends + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588 + + 'The boar!' quoth she; whereat a sudden pale, + Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose, + Usurps her cheeks, she trembles at his tale, + And on his neck her yoking arms she throws: 592 + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck, + He on her belly falls, she on her back. + + Now is she in the very lists of love, + Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596 + All is imaginary she doth prove, + He will not manage her, although he mount her; + That worse than Tantalus' is her annoy, + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600 + + Even as poor birds, deceiv'd with painted grapes, + Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw, + Even so she languisheth in her mishaps, + As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604 + The warm effects which she in him finds missing, + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing. + + But all in vain, good queen, it will not be: + She hath assay'd as much as may be prov'd; 608 + Her pleading hath deserv'd a greater fee; + She's Love, she loves, and yet she is not lov'd. + 'Fie, fie!' he says, 'you crush me; let me go; + You have no reason to withhold me so.' 612 + + 'Thou hadst been gone,' quoth she, 'sweet boy, ere this, + But that thou told'st me thou wouldst hunt the boar. + O! be advis'd; thou know'st not what it is + With javelin's point a churlish swine to gore, 616 + Whose tushes never sheath'd he whetteth still, + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill. + + 'On his bow-back he hath a battle set + Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620 + His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret; + His snout digs sepulchres where'er he goes; + Being mov'd, he strikes whate'er is in his way, + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624 + + 'His brawny sides, with hairy bristles arm'd, + Are better proof than thy spear's point can enter; + His short thick neck cannot be easily harm'd; + Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628 + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes, + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes. + + 'Alas! he nought esteems that face of thine, + To which Love's eyes pay tributary gazes; 632 + Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne, + Whose full perfection all the world amazes; + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread! + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead. + + 'O! let him keep his loathsome cabin still; 637 + Beauty hath nought to do with such foul fiends: + Come not within his danger by thy will; + They that thrive well take counsel of their friends. + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble, + I fear'd thy fortune, and my joints did tremble. + + 'Didst thou not mark my face? was it not white? + Saw'st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644 + Grew I not faint? And fell I not downright? + Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie, + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest, + But, like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast. + + 'For where Love reigns, disturbing Jealousy 649 + Doth call himself Affection's sentinel; + Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny, + And in a peaceful hour doth cry "Kill, kill!" 652 + Distempering gentle Love in his desire, + As air and water do abate the fire. + + 'This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy, + This canker that eats up Love's tender spring, 656 + This carry-tale, dissentious Jealousy, + That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring, + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear: 660 + + 'And more than so, presenteth to mine eye + The picture of an angry-chafing boar, + Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie + An image like thyself, all stain'd with gore; 664 + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head. + + 'What should I do, seeing thee so indeed, + That tremble at the imagination? 668 + The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed, + And fear doth teach it divination: + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow, + If thou encounter with the boar to-morrow. 672 + + 'But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul'd by me; + Uncouple at the timorous flying hare, + Or at the fox which lives by subtilty, + Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676 + Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downs, + And on thy well-breath'd horse keep with thy hound. + + 'And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare, + Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680 + How he outruns the winds, and with what care + He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles: + The many musits through the which he goes + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684 + + 'Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep, + To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell, + And sometime where earth-delving conies keep, + To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688 + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer; + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear: + + 'For there his smell with others being mingled, 691 + The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt, + Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled + With much ado the cold fault cleanly out; + Then do they spend their mouths: Echo replies, + As if another chase were in the skies. 696 + + 'By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, + Stands on his hinder legs with listening ear, + To hearken if his foes pursue him still: + Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700 + And now his grief may be compared well + To one sore sick that hears the passing bell. + + 'Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch + Turn, and return, indenting with the way; 704 + Each envious briar his weary legs doth scratch, + Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay: + For misery is trodden on by many, + And being low never reliev'd by any. 708 + + 'Lie quietly, and hear a little more; + Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise: + To make thee hate the hunting of the boar, + Unlike myself thou hear'st me moralize, 712 + Applying this to that, and so to so; + For love can comment upon every woe. + + 'Where did I leave?' 'No matter where,' quoth he + 'Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716 + The night is spent,' 'Why, what of that?' quoth she. + 'I am,' quoth he, 'expected of my friends; + And now 'tis dark, and going I shall fall.' + 'In night,' quoth she, 'desire sees best of all.' 720 + + But if thou fall, O! then imagine this, + The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips, + And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723 + Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn, + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn. + + 'Now of this dark night I perceive the reason: + Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728 + Till forging Nature be condemn'd of treason, + For stealing moulds from heaven that were divine; + Wherein she fram'd thee in high heaven's despite, + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732 + + 'And therefore hath she brib'd the Destinies, + To cross the curious workmanship of nature + To mingle beauty with infirmities, + And pure perfection with impure defeature; 736 + Making it subject to the tyranny + Of mad mischances and much misery; + + 'As burning fevers, agues pale and faint, + Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740 + The marrow-eating sickness, whose attains + Disorder breeds by heating of the blood; + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn'd despair, + Swear nature's death for framing thee so fair. 744 + + 'And not the least of all these maladies + But in one minute's fight brings beauty under: + Both favour, savour hue, and qualities, + Whereat the impartial gazer late did wonder, 748 + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw'd and done, + As mountain-snow melts with the mid-day sun. + + 'Therefore, despite of fruitless chastity, + Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752 + That on the earth would breed a scarcity + And barren dearth of daughters and of sons, + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756 + + 'What is thy body but a swallowing grave, + Seeming to bury that posterity + Which by the rights of time thou needs must have, + If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760 + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain, + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain. + + + 'So in thyself thyself art made away; + A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764 + Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay, + Or butcher-sire that reeves his son of life. + Foul-cankering rust the hidden treasure frets, + But gold that's put to use more gold begets.' 768 + + 'Nay then,' quoth Adon, 'you will fall again + Into your idle over-handled theme; + The kiss I gave you is bestow'd in vain, + And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772 + For by this black-fac'd night, desire's foul nurse, + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse. + + 'If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues, + And every tongue more moving than your own, 776 + Bewitching like the wanton mermaid's songs, + Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown; + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear, + And will not let a false sound enter there; 780 + + 'Lest the deceiving harmony should run + Into the quiet closure of my breast; + And then my little heart were quite undone, + In his bedchamber to be barr'd of rest. 784 + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan, + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone. + + 'What have you urg'd that I cannot reprove? + The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790 + I hate not love, but your device in love + That lends embracements unto every stranger. + You do it for increase: O strange excuse! + When reason is the bawd to lust's abuse. 792 + + 'Call it not, love, for Love to heaven is fled, + Since sweating Lust on earth usurp'd his name; + Under whose simple semblance he hath fed + Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796 + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves, + As caterpillars do the tender leaves. + + 'Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, + But Lust's effect is tempest after sun; 800 + Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain, + Lust's winter comes ere summer half be done. + Love surfeits not, Lust like a glutton dies; + Love is all truth, Lust full of forged lies. 804 + + 'More I could tell, but more I dare not say; + The text is old, the orator too green. + Therefore, in sadness, now I will away; + My face is full of shame, my heart of teen: 808 + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended + Do burn themselves for having so offended.' + + With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811 + Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast, + And homeward through the dark laund runs apace; + Leaves Love upon her back deeply distress'd. + Look, how a bright star shooteth from the sky + So glides he in the night from Venus' eye; 816 + + Which after him she darts, as one on shore + Gazing upon a late-embarked friend, + Till the wild waves will have him seen no more, + Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820 + So did the merciless and pitchy night + Fold in the object that did feed her sight. + + Whereat amaz'd, as one that unaware + Hath dropp'd a precious jewel in the flood, 824 + Or 'stonish'd as night-wanderers often are, + Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood; + Even so confounded in the dark she lay, + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828 + + And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans, + That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled, + Make verbal repetition of her moans; + Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832 + 'Ay me!' she cries, and twenty times, 'Woe, woe!' + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so. + + She marking them, begins a wailing note, + And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836 + How love makes young men thrall and old men dote; + How love is wise in folly foolish-witty: + Her heavy anthem still concludes in woe, + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840 + + Her song was tedious, and outwore the night, + For lovers' hours are long, though seeming short: + If pleas'd themselves, others, they think, delight + In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844 + Their copious stories, oftentimes begun, + End without audience, and are never done. + + For who hath she to spend the night withal, + But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848 + Like shrill-tongu'd tapsters answering every call, + Soothing the humour of fantastic wits? + She says, ''Tis so:' they answer all, ''Tis so;' + And would say after her, if she said 'No'. 852 + + Lo! here the gentle lark, weary of rest, + From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, + And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast + The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856 + Who doth the world so gloriously behold, + That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish'd gold. + + Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow: + 'O thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860 + From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow + The beauteous influence that makes him bright, + There lives a son that suck'd an earthly mother, + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other' + + This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865 + Musing the morning is so much o'erworn, + And yet she hears no tidings of her love; + She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn: 868 + Anon she hears them chant it lustily, + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry. + + And as she runs, the bushes in the way + Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872 + Some twine about her thigh to make her stay: + She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace, + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache, + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876 + + By this she hears the hounds are at a bay; + Whereat she starts, like one that spies an adder + Wreath'd up in fatal folds just in his way, + The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds 881 + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds. + + For now she knows it is no gentle chase, + But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884 + Because the cry remaineth in one place, + Wilere fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud: + Finding their enemy to be so curst, + They all strain courtesy who shall cope him first. + + This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear, 889 + Througll which it enters to surprise her heart; + Who, overcome by doubt and bloodless fear, + With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; + Like soldiers, when their captain once doth yield, + They basely fly and dare not stay the field. + + Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy, + Till, cheering up her senses sore dismay'd, 896 + She tells them 'tis a causeless fantasy, + And childish error, that they are afraid; + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more: + And with that word she spied the hunted boar; + + Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red, 901 + Like milk and blood being mingled both together, + A second fear through all her sinews spread, + Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904 + This way she runs, and now she will no further, + But back retires to rate the boar for murther. + + A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways, + She treads the path that she untreads again; 908 + Her more than haste is mated with delays, + Like the proceedings of a drunken brain, + Full of respects, yet nought at all respecting, + In hand with all things, nought at all effecting. + + Here kennel'd in a brake she finds a hound, 913 + And asks the weary caitiff for his master, + And there another licking of his wound, + Gainst venom'd sores the only sovereign plaster; 916 + And here she meets another sadly scowling, + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling. + + When he hath ceas'd his ill-resounding noise, + Another flap-mouth'd mourner, black and grim, 920 + Against the welkin volleys out his voice; + Another and another answer him, + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below, + Shaking their scratch'd ears, bleeding as they go. + + Look, how the world's poor people are amaz'd 925 + At apparitions, signs, and prodigies, + Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gaz'd, + Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928 + So she at these sad sighs draws up her breath, + And, sighing it again, exclaims on Death. + + 'Hard-favour'd tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931 + Hateful divorce of love,'--thus chides she Death,-- + 'Grim-grinning ghost, earth's worm, what dost thou mean + To stifle beauty and to steal his breath, + Who when he liv'd, his breath and beauty set + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet? 936 + + 'If he be dead, O no! it cannot be, + Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it; + O yes! it may; thou hast no eyes to see, + But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940 + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart + Mistakes that aim and cleaves an infant's heart. + + 'Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke, + And, hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944 + The Destinies will curse thee for this stroke; + They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck'st a flower. + Love's golden arrow at him shoull have fled, + And not Death's ebon dart, to strike him dead. 948 + + 'Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok'st such weeping? + What may a heavy groan advantage thee? + Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping + Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952 + Now Nature cares not for thy mortal vigour + Since her best work is ruin'd with thy rigour.' + + Here overcome, as one full of despair, + She vail'd her eyelids, who, like sluices, stopp'd 956 + The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair + In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp'd + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain, + And with his strong course opens them again. 960 + + O! how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow; + Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye; + Both crystals, where they view'd each other's sorrow, + Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964 + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain, + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again. + + Variable passions throng her constant woe, + As striving who should best become her grief; 968 + All entertain'd, each passion labours so, + That every present sorrow seemeth chief, + But none is best; then join they all together, + Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972 + + By this, far off she hears some huntsman holloa; + A nurse's song no'er pleas'd her babe so well: + The dire imagination she did follow + This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976 + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice, + And flatters her it is Adonis' voice. + + Whereat her tears began to turn their tide, + Being prison'd in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980 + Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside, + Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground, + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown'd. + + O hard-believing love! how strange it seems 985 + Not to believe, and yet too credulous; + Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes; + Despair and hope make thee ridiculous: 988 + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely, + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly. + + Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought, + Adonis lives, and Death is not to blame; 992 + It was not she that call'd him all to naught, + Now she adds honours to his hateful name; + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings, + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996 + + 'No, no,' quoth she, 'sweet Death, I did but jest; + Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear + Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast, + Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000 + Then, gentle shadow,--truth I must confess-- + I rail'd on thee, fearing my love's decease. + + 'Tis not my fault: the boar provok'd my tongue; + Be wreak'd on him, invisible commander; 1004 + 'Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong; + I did but act, he 's author of my slander: + Grief hath two tongues: and never woman yet, + Could rule them both without ten women's wit.' + + Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009 + Her rash suspect sile doth extenuate; + And that his beauty may the better thrive, + With Death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012 + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs; and stories + His victories, his triumphs, and his glories. + + 'O Jove!' quoth she, 'how much a fool was I, + To be of such a weak and silly mind 1016 + To wail his death who lives and must not die + Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind; + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain, + And, beauty dead, black chaos comes again. 1020 + + 'Fie, fie, fond love! thou art so full of fear + As one with treasure laden, hemm'd with thieves + Trifles, unwitnessed with eye or ear, + Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.' 1024 + Even at this word she hears a merry horn + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn. + + As falcon to the lure, away she flies; + The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light; 1028 + And in her haste unfortunately spies + The foul boar's conquest on her fair delight; + Which seen, her eyes, as murder'd with the view, + Like stars asham'd of day, themselves withdrew: + + Or, as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033 + Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain, + And there, all smother'd up, in shade doth sit, + Long after fearing to creep forth again; 1036 + So, at his bloody view, her eyes are fled + Into the deep dark cabills of her head; + + Where they resign their office and their light + To the disposing of her troubled brain; 1040 + Who bids them still consort with ugly night, + And never wound the heart with looks again; + Who, like a king perplexed in his throne, + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan, 1044 + + Whereat each tributary subject quakes; + As when the wind, imprison'd in the ground, + Struggling for passage, earth's foundation shakes, + Which with cold terror doth men's minds confound. + This mutiny each part doth so surprise 1049 + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes; + + And, being open'd, threw unwilling light + Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench'd + In his soft flank; whose wonted lily white 1053 + With purple tears, that his wound wept, was drench'd: + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf, or weed + But stole his blood and seem'd with him to bleed. + + This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057 + Over one shoulder doth she hang her head, + Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth; + She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060 + Her voice is stopp'd, her joints forget to bow, + Her eyes are mad that they have wept till now. + + Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly, + That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three; + And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065 + That makes more gashes where no breach should be: + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled; + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled. + + 'My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069 + And yet,' quoth she, 'behold two Adons dead! + My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone, + Mine eyes are turn'd to fire, my heart to lead: 1072 + Heavy heart's lead, melt at mine eyes' red fire! + So shall I die by drops of hot desire. + + 'Alas! poor world, what treasure hast thou lost! + What face remains alive that's worth the viewing? + Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast + Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078 + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim; + But true-sweet beauty liv'd and died with him. + + 'Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081 + Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you: + Having no fair to lose, you need not fear; + The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you: + But when Adonis liv'd, sun and sharp air 1085 + Lurk'd like two thieves, to rob him of his fair: + + 'And therefore would he put his bonnet on, + Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088 + The wind would blow it off, and, being gone, + Play with his locks: then would Adonis weep; + And straight, in pity of his tender years, + They both would strive who first should dry his tears. + + 'To see his face the lion walk'd along 1093 + Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him; + To recreate himself when he hath sung, + The tiger would be tame and gently hear him; 1096 + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey, + And never fright the silly lamb that day. + + 'When he beheld his shadow in the brook, + The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100 + When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, + That some would sing, some other in their bills + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries. + + 'But this foul, grim, and urchin-spouted boar, 1105 + Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave, + Ne'er saw the beauteous livery that he wore; + Witness the entertainment that he gave: 1108 + If he did see his face, why then I know + He thought to kiss him, and hath killed him so. + + ''Tis true, 'tis true; thus was Adonis slain: + He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112 + Who did not whet his teeth at him again, + But by a kiss thought to persuade him there; + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine + Sheath'd unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116 + + 'Had I been tooth'd like him, I must confess, + With kissing him I should have kill'd him first; + But he is dead, and never did he bless + My youth with his; the more am I accurst.' 1120 + With this she falleth in the place she stood, + And stains her face with his congealed blood. + + Sho looks upon his lips, and they are pale; + She takes him by the hand, and that is cold; 1124 + She whispers in his ears a heavy tale, + As if they heard the woeful words she told; + She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes, + Where, lo! two lamps, burnt out, in darkness lies; + + Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129 + A thousand times, and now no more reflect; + Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell'd, + And every beauty robb'd of his effect: 1132 + 'Wonder of time,' quoth she, 'this is my spite, + That, you being dead, the day should yet be light. + + 'Since thou art dead, lo! here I prophesy, + Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136 + It shall be waited on with jealousy, + Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end; + Ne'er settled equally, but high or low; + That all love's pleasure shall not match his woe. + + 'It shall be fickle, false, and full of fraud, 1141 + Bud and be blasted in a breathing-while; + The bottom poison, and the top o'erstraw'd + With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile: 1144 + The strongest body shall it make most weak, + Strike the wise dumb and teach the fool to speak. + + 'It shall be sparing and too full of riot, + Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148 + The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet, + Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures; + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild, + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152 + + 'It shall suspect where is no cause of fear; + It shall not fear where it should most mistrust; + It shall be merciful, and too severe, + And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156 + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward, + Put fear to velour, courage to the coward. + + 'It shall be cause of war and dire events, + And set dissension 'twixt the son and sire; 1160 + Subject and servile to all discontents, + As dry combustious matter is to fire: + Sith in his prime Death doth my love destroy, + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.' 1164 + + By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd + Was melted like a vapour from her sight, + And in his blood that on the ground lay spill'd, + A purple flower sprung up, chequer'd with white; 1168 + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood. + + She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell, + Comparing it to her Adonis' breath; 1172 + And says within her bosom it shall dwell, + Since he himself is reft from her by death: + She drops the stalk, and in the breach appears + Green dropping sap, which she compares to tears. + + 'Poor flower,' quoth she, 'this was thy father's guise, + Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire, + For every little grief to wet his eyes: + To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180 + And so 'tis shine; but know, it is as good + To wither in my breast as in his blood. + + 'Here was thy father's bed, here in my breast; + Thou art the next of blood, and 'tis thy right: 1184 + Lo! in this hollow cradle take thy rest, + My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night: + There shall not be one minute in an hour + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower.' + + Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189 + And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid + Their mistress, mounted, through the empty skies + In her light chariot quickly is convey'd; 1192 + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen + Means to immure herself and not be seen. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Venus and Adonis, by William Shakespeare + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS AND ADONIS *** + +***** This file should be named 1045.txt or 1045.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/4/1045/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by Dianne Bean of Chino Valley, AZ. + + + + + +VENUS AND ADONIS + +by William Shakespeare + + + + +'Villa miretur vulgus; mihi flavus Apollo +Pocula Castalia plena ministret aqua.' + +TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, + +EARL OF SOUHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD. + +RIGHT HONOURABLE, + +I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines +to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing +so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if your +honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow +to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you +with some graver labour. But if the first heir of my invention +prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and +never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so +bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your +honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer +your own wish and the world's hopeful expectation. + +Your honour's in all duty, + +WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. + + + + +VENUS AND ADONIS + +EVEN as the sun with purple-colour'd face +Had ta'en his last leave of the weeping morn, +Rose-cheek'd Adonis tried him to the chase; +Hunting he lov'd, but love he laugh'd to scorn; 4 + Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, + And like a bold-fac'd suitor 'gins to woo him. + +'Thrice fairer than myself,' thus she began, +'The field's chief flower, sweet above compare, 8 +Stain to all nymphs, more lovely than a man, +More white and red than doves or roses are; + Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, + Saith that the world hath ending with thy life. 12 + +'Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, +And rein his proud head to the saddle-bow; +If thou wilt deign this favour, for thy meed +A thousand honey secrets shalt thou know: 16 +Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses; +And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses: + +'And yet not cloy thy lips with loath'd satiety, +But rather famish them amid their plenty, 20 +Making them red and pale with fresh variety; +Ten kisses short as one, one long as twenty: + A summer's day will seem an hour but short, + Being wasted in such time-beguiling sport.' 24 + +With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, +The precedent of pith and livelihood, +And, trembling in her passion, calls it balm, +Earth's sovereign salve to do a goddess good: 28 + Being so enrag'd, desire doth lend her force + Courageously to pluck him from his horse. + +Over one arm the lusty courser's rein +Under her other was the tender boy, 32 +Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain, +With leaden appetite, unapt to toy; + She red and hot as coals of glowing fire + He red for shame, but frosty in desire. 36 + +The studded bridle on a ragged bough +Nimbly she fastens;--O! how quick is love:-- +The steed is stalled up, and even now +To tie the rider she begins to prove: 40 + Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust, + And govern'd him in strength, though not in lust. + +So soon was she along, as he was down, +Each leaning on their elbows and their hips: 44 +Now doth she stroke his cheek, now doth he frown, +And 'gins to chide, but soon she stops his lips; +And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, +'If thou wilt chide, thy lips shall never open.' 48 + +He burns with bashful shame; she with her tears +Doth quench the maiden burning of his cheeks; +Then with her windy sighs and golden hairs +To fan and blow them dry again she seeks: 52 + He saith she is immodest, blames her miss; + What follows more she murders with a kiss. + +Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, +Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh and bone, 56 +Shaking her wings, devouring all in haste, +Till either gorge be stuff'd or prey be gone; +Even so she kiss'd his brow, his cheek, his chin, +And where she ends she doth anew begin. 60 + +Forc'd to content, but never to obey, +Panting he lies, and breatheth in her face; +She feedeth on the steam, as on a prey, +And calls it heavenly moisture, air of grace; 64 + Wishing her cheeks were gardens full of flowers + So they were dewd with such distilling showers. + +Look! how a bird lies tangled in a net, +So fasten'd in her arms Adonis lies; 68 +Pure shame and aw'd resistance made him fret, +Which bred more beauty in his angry eyes: + Rain added to a river that is rank + Perforce will force it overflow the bank. 72 + + +Still she entreats, and prettily entreats, +For to a pretty ear she tunes her tale; +Still is he sullen, still he lours and frets, +'Twixt crimson shame and anger ashy-pale; 76 + Being red she loves him best; and being white, + Her best is better'd with a more delight. + +Look how he can, she cannot choose but love; +And by her fair immortal hand she swears, 80 +From his soft bosom never to remove, +Till he take truce with her contending tears, + Which long have rain'd, making her cheeks all wet; + And one sweet kiss shall pay this countless debt. + +Upon this promise did he raise his chin 85 +Like a dive-dapper peering through a wave, +Who, being look'd on, ducks as quickly in; +So offers he to give what she did crave; 88 + But when her lips were ready for his pay, + He winks, and turns his lips another way. + +Never did passenger in summer's heat +More thirst for drink than she for this good turn. 92 +Her help she sees, but help she cannot get; +She bathes in water, yet her fire must burn: + 'O! pity,' 'gan she cry, 'flint-hearted boy: + 'Tis but a kiss I beg; why art thou coy? 96 + +'I have been woo'd, as I entreat thee now, +Even by the stern and direful god of war, +Whose sinewy neck in battle ne'er did bow, +Who conquers where he comes m every jar; 100 + Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, + And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. + +'Over my altars hath he hung his lance, +His batter'd shield, his uncontrolled crest, 104 +And for my sake hath learn'd to sport and dance +To toy, to wanton, dally, smile, and jest; + Scorning his churlish drum and ensign red + Making my arms his field, his tent my bed. 108 + +'Thus he that overrul'd I oversway'd, +Leading him prisoner in a red-rose chain: +Strong-temper'd steel his stronger strength obey'd, +Yet was he servile to my coy disdain. 112 + O! be not proud, nor brag not of thy might, + For mastering her that foil'd the god of fight. + +Touch but my lips with those falr lips of thine,-- +Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red,-- 116 +The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine: +What seest thou in the ground? hold up thy head: + Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies; + Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes? 120 + +'Art thou asham'd to kiss? then wink again, +And I will wink; so shall the day seem night; +Love keeps his revels where there are but twain; +Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight: 124 + These blue-vein'd violets whereon we lean + Never can blab, nor know not what we mean. + +'The tender spring upon thy tempting lip 127 +Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be tasted: +Make use of time, let not advantage slip; +Beauty within itself should not be wasted: + Fair flowers that are not gather'd in their prime + Rot and consume themselves in little time. 132 + +'Were I hard-favour'd, foul, or wrinkled-old, +Ill-nurtur'd, crooked, churlish, harsh in voice, +O'erworn, despised, rheumatic, and cold, +Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice, 136 + Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee; + But having no defects, why dost abhor me? + +'Thou canst not see one winkle in my brow; 139 +Mine eyes are grey and bright, and quick in turning; +My beauty as the spring doth yearly grow; +My flesh is soft and plump, my marrow burning; + My smooth moist hand, were it with thy hand felt. + Would in thy palm dissolve, or seem to melt. 144 + +'Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear, +Or like a fairy, trip upon the green, +Or, like a nymph, with long dishevell'd hair, +Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen: 148 + Love is a spirit all compact of fire, + Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire. + +'Witness this primrose bank whereon I lie; 151 +These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me; +Two strengthless doves will draw me through the sky, +From morn till night, even where I list to sport me: + Is love so light, sweet boy, and may it be + That thou shouldst think it heavy unto thee? 156 + +'Is thine own heart to shine own face affected? +Can thy right hand seize love upon thy left? +Then woo thyself, be of thyself rejected, +Steal thine own freedom, and complain on theft. 160 + Narcissus so himself himself forsook, + And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. + +'Torches are made to light, jewels to wear, +Dainties to taste, fresh beauty for the use, 164 +Herbs for their smell, and sappy plants to bear; +Things growing to themselves are growth's abuse: + Seeds spring from seeds, and beauty breedeth beauty; + Thou wast begot; to get it is thy duty. 168 + +'Upon the earth's increase why shouldst thou feed, +Unless the earth with thy increase be fed? +By law of nature thou art bound to breed, +That thine may live when thou thyself art dead; 172 + And so in spite of death thou dost survive, + In that thy likeness still is left alive.' + +By this the love-sick queen began to sweat, +For where they lay the shadow had forsook them, 176 +And Titan, tired in the mid-day heat +With burning eye did hotly overlook them, + Wishing Adonis had his team to guide, + So he were like him and by Venus' side. 180 + +And now Adonis with a lazy spright, +And with a heavy, dark, disliking eye, +His louring brows o'erwhelming his fair sight, +Like misty vapours when they blot the sky, 184 + Souring his cheeks, cries, 'Fie! no more of love: + The sun doth burn my face; I must remove.' + +'Ay me,' quoth Venus, 'young, and so unkind! +What bare excuses mak'st thou to be gone! 188 +I'll sigh celestial breath, whose gentle wind +Shall cool the heat of this descending sun: + I'll make a shadow for thee of my hairs; 191 + If they burn too, I'll quench them with my tears. + +'The sun that shines from heaven shines but warm, +And lo! I lie between that sun and thee: +The heat I have from thence doth little harm, +Thine eye darts forth the fire that burneth me; 196 + And were I not immortal, life were done + Between this heavenly and earthly sun. + +'Art thou obdurate, flinty, hard as steel? +Nay, more than flint, for stone at rain relenteth: 200 +Art thou a woman's son, and canst not feel +What 'tis to love? how want of love tormenteth? + O! had thy mother borne so hard a mind, 203 + She had not brought forth thee, but died unkind. + + +'What am I that thou shouldst contemn me this? +Or what great danger dwells upon my suit? +What were thy lips the worse for one poor kiss? + Speak, fair; but speak fair words, or else be mute: + Give me one kiss, I'll give it thee again, 209 +And one for interest if thou wilt have twain. + +'Fie! lifeless picture, cold and senseless stone, +Well-painted idol, image dull and dead, 212 +Statue contenting but the eye alone, +Thing like a man, but of no woman bred: + Thou art no man, though of a man's complexion, + For men will kiss even by their own direction.' 216 + +This said, impatience chokes her pleading tongue, +And swelling passion doth provoke a pause; +Red cheeks and fiery eyes blaze forth her wrong; +Being judge in love, she cannot right her cause: 220 + And now she weeps, and now she fain would speak, + And now her sobs do her intendments break. + +Sometimes she shakes her head, and then his hand; +Now gazeth she on him, now on the ground; 224 +Sometimes her arms infold him like a band: +She would, he will not in her arms be bound; + And when from thence he struggles to be gone, + She locks her lily fingers one in one. 228 + +'Fondling,' she saith, 'since I have hemm'd thee here +Within the circuit of this ivory pale, +I'll be a park, and thou shalt be my deer; +Feed where thou wilt, on mountain or in dale: 232 + Graze on my lips, and if those hills be dry, + Stray lower, where the pleasant fountains lie. + +'Within this limit is relief enough, +Sweet bottom-grass and high delightful plain, 236 +Round rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, +To shelter thee from tempest and from rain: + Then be my deer, since I am such a park; 239 + No dog shall rouse thee, though a thousand bark.' + +At this Adonis smiles as in disdain, +That in each cheek appears a pretty dimple: +Love made those hollows, if himself were slain, +He might be buried in a tomb so simple; 244 + Foreknowing well, if there he came to lie, + Why, there Love liv'd, and there he could not die. + +These lovely caves, these round enchanting pits, +Open'd their mouths to swallow Venus' liking. 248 +Being mad before, how doth she now for wits? +Struck dead at first, what needs a second striking? + Poor queen of love, in thine own law forlorn, + To love a cheek that smiles at thee in scorn! 252 + +Now which way shall she turn? what shall she say? +Her words are done, her woes the more increasing; +The time is spent, her object will away, +And from her twining arms doth urge releasing: 256 + 'Pity,' she cries; 'some favour, some remorse!' + Away he springs, and hasteth to his horse. + +But lo! from forth a copse that neighbours by, +A breeding jennet, lusty, young, and proud, 260 +Adonis' tramping courier doth espy, +And forth she rushes, snorts and neighs aloud: + The strong-neck'd steed, being tied unto a tree, + Breaketh his rein, and to her straight goes he. 264 + +Imperiously he leaps, he neighs, he bounds, +And now his woven girths he breaks asunder; +The bearing earth with his hard hoof he wounds, +Whose hollow womb resounds like heaven's thunder; + The iron bit he crusheth 'tween his teeth, 269 + Controlling what he was controlled with. + +His ears up-prick'd; his braided hanging mane +Upon his compass'd crest now stand on end; 272 +His nostrils drink the air, and forth again, +As from a furnace, vapours doth he send: + His eye, which scornfully glisters like fire, + Shows his hot courage and his high desire. 276 + +Sometime he trots, as if he told the steps, +With gentle majesty and modest pride; +Anon he rears upright, curvets and leaps, +As who should say, 'Lo! thus my strength is tried; + And this I do to captivate the eye 281 + Of the fair breeder that is standing by.' + +What recketh he his rider's angry stir, +His flattering 'Holla', or his 'Stand, I say'? 284 +What cares he now for curb or pricking spur? +For rich caparisons or trapping gay? + He sees his love, and nothing else he sees, + Nor nothing else with his proud sight agrees. 288 + +Look, when a painter would surpass the life, +In limning out a well-proportion'd steed, +His art with nature's workmanship at strife, +As if the dead the living should exceed; 292 + So did this horse excel a common one, + In shape, in courage, colour, pace and bone. + +Round-hoof'd, short-jointed, fetlocks shag and long, +Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide, +High crest, short ears, straight legs and passing strong, +Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide: + Look, what a horse should have he did not lack, + Save a proud rider on so proud a back. 300 + +Sometimes he scuds far off, and there he stares; +Anon he starts at stirring of a feather; +To bid the wind a base he now prepares, +And whe'r he run or fly they know not whether; 304 + For through his mane and tail the high wind sings, + Fanning the hairs, who wave like feather'd wings. + +He looks upon his love, and neighs unto her; +She answers him as if she knew his mind; 308 +Being proud, as females are, to see him woo her, +She puts on outward strangeness, seems unkind, + Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels, + Beating his kind embracements with her heels. 312 + +Then, like a melancholy malcontent, +He vails his tail, that, like a falling plume, +Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent: +He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume. 316 + His love, perceiving how he is enrag'd, + Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag'd. + +His testy master goeth about to take him; +When lo! the unback'd breeder, full of fear, 320 +Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him, +With her the horse, and left Adonis there: + As they were mad, unto the wood they hie them, + Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them. 324 + +All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits, +Banning his boisterous and unruly beast: +And now the happy season once more fits, +That love-sick Love by pleading may be blest; 328 + For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong + When it is barr'd the aidance of the tongue. + +An oven that is stopp'd, or river stay'd, +Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage: 332 +So of concealed sorrow may be said; +Free vent of words love's fire doth assuage; + But when the heart's attorney once is mute + The client breaks, as desperate in his suit. 336 + +He sees her coming, and begins to glow,-- +Even as a dying coal revives with wind,-- +And with his bonnet hides his angry brow; +Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, 340 + Taking no notice that she is so nigh, + For all askance he holds her in his eye. + +O! what a sight it was, wistly to view +How she came stealing to the wayward boy; 344 +To note the fighting conflict of her hue, +How white and red each other did destroy: + But now her cheek was pale, and by and by + It flash'd forth fire, as lightning from the sky. 348 + +Now was she just before him as he sat, +And like a lowly lover down she kneels; +With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat, +Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels: 352 + His tenderer cheek receives her soft hand's print, + As apt as new-fall'n snow takes any dint. + +O! what a war of looks was then between them; +Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing; 356 +His eyes saw her eyes as they had not seen them; +Her eyes woo'd still, his eyes disdain'd the wooing: + And all this dumb play had his acts made plain + With tears, which, chorus-like, her eyes did rain. + +Full gently now she takes him by the hand, 361 +A lily prison'd in a gaol of snow, +Or ivory in an alabaster band; +So white a friend engirts so white a foe: 364 + This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, + Show'd like two silver doves that sit a-billing. + +Once more the engine of her thoughts began: +'O fairest mover on this mortal round, 368 +Would thou wert as I am, and I a man, +My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound; + For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee, + Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee.' + +'Give me my hand,' saith he, 'why dost thou feel it?' +'Give me my heart,' saith she, 'and thou shalt have it; +O! give it me, lest thy hard heart do steel it, +And being steel'd, soft sighs can never grave it: 376 + Then love's deep groans I never shall regard, + Because Adonis' heart hath made mine hard.' + +'For shame,' he cries, 'let go, and let me go; +My day's delight is past, my horse is gone, 380 +And 'tis your fault I am bereft him so: +I pray you hence, and leave me here alone: + For all my mind, my thought, my busy care, + Is how to get my palfrey from the mare.' 384 + +Thus she replies: 'Thy palfrey, as he should, +Welcomes the warm approach of sweet desire: +Affection is a coal that must be cool'd; +Else, suffer'd, it will set the heart on fire: 388 + The sea hath bounds, but deep desire hath none; + Therefore no marvel though thy horse be gone. + +'How like a Jade he stood, tied to the tree, +Servilely master'd with a leathern rein! 392 +But when he saw his love, his youth's fair fee, +He held such petty bondage in disdain; + Throwing the base thong from his bending crest, + Enfranchising his mouth, his back, his breast. 396 + +'Who sees his true-love in her naked bed, +Teaching the sheets a whiter hue than white, +But, when his glutton eye so full hath fed, +His other agents aim at like delight? 400 + Who is so faint, that dare not bo so bold + To touch the fire, the weather being cold? + +'Let me excuse thy courser, gentle boy; +And learn of him, I heartily beseech thee, 404 +To take advantage on presented joy +Though I were dumb, yet his proceedings teach thee. + O learn to love, the lesson is but plain, + And once made perfect, never lost again. 408 + +'I know not love,' quoth he, 'nor will not know it, +Unless it be a boar, and then I chase it; +'Tis much to borrow, and I will not owe it; +My love to love is love but to disgrace it; 412 + For I have heard it is a life in death, + That laughs and weeps, and all but with a breath. + +'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd? +Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth? 416 +If springing things be any jot diminish'd, +They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth; + The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young + Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong. 420 + +'You hurt my hand with wringing Iet us part, +And leave this idle theme, this bootless chat: +Remove your siege from my unyielding heart; +To love's alarms it will not ope the gate: 424 + Dismiss your vows, your feigned tears, your flattery; + For where a heart is hard they make no battery.' + +'What! canst thou talk?' quoth she, 'hast thou a tongue? +O! would thou hadst not, or I had no hearing; 428 +Thy mermaid's voice hath done me double wrong; +I had my load before, now press'd with bearing: + Melodious discord, heavenly tune, harsh-sounding, + Ear's deep-sweet music, and heart's deep-sore wounding. + +'Had I no eyes but ears, my ears would love 433 +That inward beauty and invisible; +Or were I deaf, thy outward parts would move +Each part in me that were but sensible: 436 + Though neither eyes nor ears, to hear nor see, + Yet should I be in love by touching thee. + +'Say, that the sense of feeling were bereft me, +And that I could not see, nor hear, nor touch, 440 +And nothing but the very smell were left me, +Yet would my love to thee be still as much; + For from the stillitory of thy face excelling + Comes breath perfum'd that breedeth love by smelling. + +'But O! what banquet wert thou to the taste, 445 +Being nurse and feeder of the other four; +Would they not wish the feast might ever last, +And bid Suspicion double-lock the door, + Lest Jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest, + Should, by his stealing in, disturb the feast?' 448 + +Once more the ruby-colour'd portal open'd, +Which to his speech did honey passage yield, 452 +Like a red morn, that ever yet betoken'd +Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field, + Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds, + Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds. 456 + +This ill presage advisedly she marketh: +Even as the wind is hush'd before it raineth, +Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh, +Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, 460 + Or like the deadly bullet of a gun, + His meaning struck her ere his words begun. + +And at his look she flatly falleth down +For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth; 464 +A smile recures the wounding of a frown; +But blessed bankrupt, that by love so thriveth! + The silly boy, believing she is dead + Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red; 468 + +And all amaz'd brake off his late intent, +For sharply he did think to reprehend her, +Which cunning love did wittily prevent: +Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her! 472 + For on the grass she lies as she were slain + Till his breath breatheth life in her again. + +He wrings her nose, he strikes her on the cheeks, +He bends her fingers, holds her pulses hard, 476 +He chafes her lips; a thousand ways he seeks +To mend the hurt that his unkindness marr'd: + He kisses her; and she, by her good will, + Will never rise, so he will kiss her still. 480 + +The night of sorrow now is turn'd to day: +Her two blue windows faintly she up-heaveth, +Like the fair sun, when in his fresh array +He cheers the morn, and all the world relieveth: 484 + And as the bright sun glorifies the sky, + So is her face illumin'd with her eye; + +Whose beams upon his hairless face are fix'd, +As if from thence they borrow'd all their shine. 488 +Were never four such lamps together mix'd, +Had not his clouded with his brow's repine; + But hers, which through the crystal tears gave light + Shone like the moon in water seen by night. 492 + +'O! where am I?' quoth she, 'in earth or heaven, +Or in the ocean drench'd, or in the fire? +What hour is this? or morn or weary even? +Do I delight to die, or life desire? 496 + But now I liv'd, and life was death's annoy; + But now I died, and death was lively joy. + +'O! thou didst kill me; kill me once again: +Thy eyes' shrewd tutor, that hard heart of thine, 500 +Hath taught them scornful tricks, and such disdain, +That they have murder'd this poor heart of mine; + And these mine eyes, true leaders to their queen, + But for thy piteous lips no more had seen. 504 + +'Long may they kiss each other for this cure! +O! never let their crimson liveries wear; +And as they last, their verdure still endure, +To drive infection from the dangerous year: 508 + That the star-gazers, having writ on death, + May say, the plague is banish'd by thy breath. + +'Pure lips, sweet seals in my soft lips imprinted, +What bargains may I make, still to be sealing? 512 +To sell myself I can be well contented, +So thou wilt buy and pay and use good dealing; + Which purchase if thou make, for fear of slips + Set thy seal-manual on my wax-red lips. 516 + +'A thousand kisses buys my heart from me; +And pay them at thy leisure, one by one. +What is ten hundred touches unto thee? +Are they not quickly told and quickly gone? 520 + Say, for non-payment that the debt should double, + Is twenty hundred kisses such a trouble?' + +'Fair queen,' quoth he, 'if any love you owe me, +Measure my strangeness with my unripe years: 524 +Before I know myself, seek not to know me; +No fisher but the ungrown fry forbears: + The mellow plum doth fall, the green sticks fast, + Or being early pluck'd is sour to taste. 528 + +'Look! the world's comforter, with weary gait +His day's hot task hath ended in the west; +The owl, night's herald, shrieks, 'tis very late; +The sheep are gone to fold, birds to their nest, 532 + And coal-black clouds that shadow heaven's light + Do summon us to part, and bid good night. + +'Now let me say good night, and so say you; +If you will say so, you shall have a kiss.' 536 +'Good night,' quoth she; and ere he says adieu, +The honey fee of parting tender'd is: + Her arms do lend his neck a sweet embrace; + Incorporate then they seem, face grows to face. 540 + +Till, breathless, he disjoin'd, and backward drew +The heavenly moisture, that sweet coral mouth, +Whose precious taste her thirsty lips well knew, +Whereon they surfeit, yet complain on drouth: 544 + He with her plenty press'd, she faint with dearth, + Their lips together glu'd, fall to the earth. + +Now quick desire hath caught the yielding prey, +And glutton-like she feeds, yet never filleth; 548 +Her lips are conquerors, his lips obey, +Paying what ransom the insulter willeth; + Whose vulture thought doth pitch the price so high, + That she will draw his lips' rich treasure dry. 552 + +And having felt the sweetness of the spoil, +With blindfold fury she begins to forage; +Her face doth reek and smoke, her blood doth boil, +And careless lust stirs up a desperate courage; 556 + Planting oblivion, beating reason back, + Forgetting shame's pure blush and honour's wrack. + +Hot, faint, and weary, with her hard embracing, +Like a wild bird being tam'd with too much handling, +Or as the fleet-foot roe that's tir'd with chasing, 561 +Or like the froward infant still'd with dandling, + He now obeys, and now no more resisteth, + While she takes all she can, not all she listeth. 564 + +What wax so frozen but dissolves with tempering, +And yields at last to every light impression? +Things out of hope are compass'd oft with venturing, +Chiefly in love, whose leave exceeds commission: 568 + Affection faints not like a pale-fac'd coward, + But then woos best when most his choice is froward. + +When he did frown, O! had she then gave over, +Such nectar from his lips she had not suck'd. 572 +Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover; +What though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis pluck'd: + Were beauty under twenty locks kept fast, + Yet love breaks through and picks them all at last. + +For pity now she can no more detain him; 577 +The poor fool prays her that he may depart: +She is resolv'd no longer to restrain him, +Bids him farewell, and look well to her heart, 580 + The which, by Cupid's bow she doth protest, + He carries thence incaged in his breast. + +'Sweet boy,' she says, 'this night I'll waste in sorrow, +For my sick heart commands mine eyes to watch. 584 +Tell me, Love's master, shall we meet to-morrow +Say, shall we? shall we? wilt thou make the match?' + He tells her, no; to-morrow he intends + To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. 588 + +'The boar!' quoth she; whereat a sudden pale, +Like lawn being spread upon the blushing rose, +Usurps her cheeks, she trembles at his tale, +And on his neck her yoking arms she throws: 592 + She sinketh down, still hanging by his neck, + He on her belly falls, she on her back. + +Now is she in the very lists of love, +Her champion mounted for the hot encounter: 596 +All is imaginary she doth prove, +He will not manage her, although he mount her; + That worse than Tantalus' is her annoy, + To clip Elysium and to lack her joy. 600 + +Even as poor birds, deceiv'd with painted grapes, +Do surfeit by the eye and pine the maw, +Even so she languisheth in her mishaps, +As those poor birds that helpless berries saw. 604 + The warm effects which she in him finds missing, + She seeks to kindle with continual kissing. + +But all in vain, good queen, it will not be: +She hath assay'd as much as may be prov'd; 608 +Her pleading hath deserv'd a greater fee; +She's Love, she loves, and yet she is not lov'd. + 'Fie, fie!' he says, 'you crush me; let me go; + You have no reason to withhold me so.' 612 + +'Thou hadst been gone,' quoth she, 'sweet boy, ere this, +But that thou told'st me thou wouldst hunt the boar. +O! be advis'd; thou know'st not what it is +With javelin's point a churlish swine to gore, 616 + Whose tushes never sheath'd he whetteth still, + Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill. + +'On his bow-back he hath a battle set +Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620 +His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret; +His snout digs sepulchres where'er he goes; + Being mov'd, he strikes whate'er is in his way, + And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624 + +'His brawny sides, with hairy bristles arm'd, +Are better proof than thy spear's point can enter; +His short thick neck cannot be easily harm'd; +Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628 + The thorny brambles and embracing bushes, + As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes. + +'Alas! he nought esteems that face of thine, +To which Love's eyes pay tributary gazes; 632 +Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne, +Whose full perfection all the world amazes; + But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread! + Would root these beauties as he roots the mead. + +'O! let him keep his loathsome cabin still; 637 +Beauty hath nought to do with such foul fiends: +Come not within his danger by thy will; +They that thrive well take counsel of their friends. + When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble, + I fear'd thy fortune, and my joints did tremble. + +'Didst thou not mark my face? was it not white? +Saw'st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644 +Grew I not faint? And fell I not downright? +Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie, + My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest, + But, like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast. + +'For where Love reigns, disturbing Jealousy 649 +Doth call himself Affection's sentinel; +Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny, +And in a peaceful hour doth cry "Kill, kill!" 652 + Distempering gentle Love in his desire, + As air and water do abate the fire. + +'This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy, +This canker that eats up Love's tender spring, 656 +This carry-tale, dissentious Jealousy, +That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring, + Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear + That if I love thee, I thy death should fear: 660 + +'And more than so, presenteth to mine eye +The picture of an angry-chafing boar, +Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie +An image like thyself, all stain'd with gore; 664 + Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed + Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head. + +'What should I do, seeing thee so indeed, +That tremble at the imagination? 668 +The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed, +And fear doth teach it divination: + I prophesy thy death, my living sorrow, + If thou encounter with the boar to-morrow. 672 + +'But if thou needs wilt hunt, be rul'd by me; +Uncouple at the timorous flying hare, +Or at the fox which lives by subtilty, +Or at the roe which no encounter dare: 676 + Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downs, + And on thy well-breath'd horse keep with thy hound. + +'And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare, +Mark the poor wretch, to overshoot his troubles 680 +How he outruns the winds, and with what care +He cranks and crosses with a thousand doubles: + The many musits through the which he goes + Are like a labyrinth to amaze his foes. 684 + +'Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep, +To make the cunning hounds mistake their smell, +And sometime where earth-delving conies keep, +To stop the loud pursuers in their yell, 688 + And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer; + Danger deviseth shifts, wit waits on fear: + +'For there his smell with others being mingled, 691 +The hot scent-snuffing hounds are driven to doubt, +Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled +With much ado the cold fault cleanly out; + Then do they spend their mouths: Echo replies, + As if another chase were in the skies. 696 + +'By this, poor Wat, far off upon a hill, +Stands on his hinder legs with listening ear, +To hearken if his foes pursue him still: +Anon their loud alarums he doth hear; 700 +And now his grief may be compared well +To one sore sick that hears the passing bell. + +'Then shalt thou see the dew-bedabbled wretch +Turn, and return, indenting with the way; 704 +Each envious briar his weary legs doth scratch, +Each shadow makes him stop, each murmur stay: + For misery is trodden on by many, + And being low never reliev'd by any. 708 + +'Lie quietly, and hear a little more; +Nay, do not struggle, for thou shalt not rise: +To make thee hate the hunting of the boar, +Unlike myself thou hear'st me moralize, 712 + Applying this to that, and so to so; + For love can comment upon every woe. + +'Where did I leave?' 'No matter where,' quoth he +'Leave me, and then the story aptly ends: 716 +The night is spent,' 'Why, what of that?' quoth she. +'I am,' quoth he, 'expected of my friends; + And now 'tis dark, and going I shall fall.' + 'In night,' quoth she, 'desire sees best of all.' 720 + +But if thou fall, O! then imagine this, +The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips, +And all is but to rob thee of a kiss. 723 +Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips + Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn, + Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn. + +'Now of this dark night I perceive the reason: +Cynthia for shame obscures her silver shine 728 +Till forging Nature be condemn'd of treason, +For stealing moulds from heaven that were divine; + Wherein she fram'd thee in high heaven's despite, + To shame the sun by day and her by night. 732 + +'And therefore hath she brib'd the Destinies, +To cross the curious workmanship of nature +To mingle beauty with infirmities, +And pure perfection with impure defeature; 736 + Making it subject to the tyranny + Of mad mischances and much misery; + +'As burning fevers, agues pale and faint, +Life-poisoning pestilence and frenzies wood, 740 +The marrow-eating sickness, whose attains +Disorder breeds by heating of the blood; + Surfeits, imposthumes, grief, and damn'd despair, + Swear nature's death for framing thee so fair. 744 + +'And not the least of all these maladies +But in one minute's fight brings beauty under: +Both favour, savour hue, and qualities, +Whereat the impartial gazer late did wonder, 748 + Are on the sudden wasted, thaw'd and done, + As mountain-snow melts with the mid-day sun. + +'Therefore, despite of fruitless chastity, +Love-lacking vestals and self-loving nuns, 752 +That on the earth would breed a scarcity +And barren dearth of daughters and of sons, + Be prodigal: the lamp that burns by night + Dries up his oil to lend the world his light. 756 + +'What is thy body but a swallowing grave, +Seeming to bury that posterity +Which by the rights of time thou needs must have, +If thou destroy them not in dark obscurity? 760 + If so, the world will hold thee in disdain, + Sith in thy pride so fair a hope is slain. + + +'So in thyself thyself art made away; +A mischief worse than civil home-bred strife, 764 +Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay, +Or butcher-sire that reeves his son of life. + Foul-cankering rust the hidden treasure frets, + But gold that's put to use more gold begets.' 768 + +'Nay then,' quoth Adon, 'you will fall again +Into your idle over-handled theme; +The kiss I gave you is bestow'd in vain, +And all in vain you strive against the stream; 772 + For by this black-fac'd night, desire's foul nurse, + Your treatise makes me like you worse and worse. + +'If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues, +And every tongue more moving than your own, 776 +Bewitching like the wanton mermaid's songs, +Yet from mine ear the tempting tune is blown; + For know, my heart stands armed in mine ear, + And will not let a false sound enter there; 780 + +'Lest the deceiving harmony should run +Into the quiet closure of my breast; +And then my little heart were quite undone, +In his bedchamber to be barr'd of rest. 784 + No, lady, no; my heart longs not to groan, + But soundly sleeps, while now it sleeps alone. + +'What have you urg'd that I cannot reprove? +The path is smooth that leadeth on to danger; 790 +I hate not love, but your device in love +That lends embracements unto every stranger. + You do it for increase: O strange excuse! + When reason is the bawd to lust's abuse. 792 + +'Call it not, love, for Love to heaven is fled, +Since sweating Lust on earth usurp'd his name; +Under whose simple semblance he hath fed +Upon fresh beauty, blotting it with blame; 796 + Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves, + As caterpillars do the tender leaves. + +'Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, +But Lust's effect is tempest after sun; 800 +Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain, +Lust's winter comes ere summer half be done. + Love surfeits not, Lust like a glutton dies; + Love is all truth, Lust full of forged lies. 804 + +'More I could tell, but more I dare not say; +The text is old, the orator too green. +Therefore, in sadness, now I will away; +My face is full of shame, my heart of teen: 808 + Mine ears, that to your wanton talk attended + Do burn themselves for having so offended.' + +With this he breaketh from the sweet embrace 811 +Of those fair arms which bound him to her breast, +And homeward through the dark laund runs apace; +Leaves Love upon her back deeply distress'd. + Look, how a bright star shooteth from the sky + So glides he in the night from Venus' eye; 816 + +Which after him she darts, as one on shore +Gazing upon a late-embarked friend, +Till the wild waves will have him seen no more, +Whose ridges with the meeting clouds contend: 820 + So did the merciless and pitchy night + Fold in the object that did feed her sight. + +Whereat amaz'd, as one that unaware +Hath dropp'd a precious jewel in the flood, 824 +Or 'stonish'd as night-wanderers often are, +Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood; + Even so confounded in the dark she lay, + Having lost the fair discovery of her way. 828 + +And now she beats her heart, whereat it groans, +That all the neighbour caves, as seeming troubled, +Make verbal repetition of her moans; +Passion on passion deeply is redoubled: 832 + 'Ay me!' she cries, and twenty times, 'Woe, woe!' + And twenty echoes twenty times cry so. + +She marking them, begins a wailing note, +And sings extemporally a woeful ditty; 836 +How love makes young men thrall and old men dote; +How love is wise in folly foolish-witty: + Her heavy anthem stili concludes in woe, + And still the choir of echoes answer so. 840 + +Her song was tedious, and outwore the night, +For lovers' hours are long, though seeming short: +If pleas'd themselves, others, they think, delight +In such like circumstance, with such like sport: 844 + Their copious stories, oftentimes begun, + End without audience, and are never done. + +For who hath she to spend the night withal, +But idle sounds resembling parasites; 848 +Like shrill-tongu'd tapsters answering every call, +Soothing the humour of fantastic wits? + She says, "Tis so:' they answer all, "Tis so;' + And would say after her, if she said 'No'. 852 + +Lo! here the gentle lark, weary of rest, +From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, +And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast +The sun ariseth in his majesty; 856 + Who doth the world so gloriously behold, + That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish'd gold. + +Venus salutes him with this fair good morrow: +'O thou clear god, and patron of all light, 860 +From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow +The beauteous influence that makes him bright, + There lives a son that suck'd an earthly mother, + May lend thee light, as thou dost lend to other' + +This said, she hasteth to a myrtle grove, 865 +Musing the morning is so much o'erworn, +And yet she hears no tidings of her love; +She hearkens for his hounds and for his horn: 868 + Anon she hears them chant it lustily, + And all in haste she coasteth to the cry. + +And as she runs, the bushes in the way +Some catch her by the neck, some kiss her face, 872 +Some twine about her thigh to make her stay: +She wildly breaketh from their strict embrace, + Like a milch doe, whose swelling dugs do ache, + Hasting to feed her fawn hid in some brake. 876 + +By this she hears the hounds are at a bay; +Whereat she starts, like one that spies an adder +Wreath'd up in fatal folds just in his way, +The fear whereof doth make him shake and shudder; + Even so the timorous yelping of the hounds 881 + Appals her senses, and her spirit confounds. + +For now she knows it is no gentle chase, +But the blunt boar, rough bear, or lion proud, 884 +Because the cry remaineth in one place, +Wilere fearfully the dogs exclaim aloud: + Finding their enemy to be so curst, + They all strain courtesy who shall cope him first. + +This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear, 889 +Througll which it enters to surprise her heart; +Who, overcome by doubt and bloodless fear, +With cold-pale weakness numbs each feeling part; + Like soldiers, when their captain once doth yield, + They basely fly and dare not stay the field. + +Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy, +Till, cheering up her senses sore dismay'd, 896 +She tells them 'tis a causeless fantasy, +And childish error, that they are afraid; + Bids them leave quaking, bids them fear no more: + And with that word she spied the hunted boar; + +Whose frothy mouth bepainted all with red, 901 +Like milk and blood being mingled both together, +A second fear through all her sinews spread, +Which madly hurries her she knows not whither: 904 + This way she runs, and now she will no further, + But back retires to rate the boar for murther. + +A thousand spleens bear her a thousand ways, +She treads the path that she untreads again; 908 +Her more than haste is mated with delays, +Like the proceedings of a drunken brain, + Full of respects, yet nought at all respecting, + In hand with all things, nought at all effecting. + +Here kennel'd in a brake she finds a hound, 9l3 +And asks the weary caitiff for his master, +And there another licking of his wound, +Gainst venom'd sores the only sovereign plaster; 916 + And here she meets another sadly scowling, + To whom she speaks, and he replies with howling. + +When he hath ceas'd his ill-resounding noise, +Another flap-mouth'd mourner, black and grim, 920 +Against the welkin volleys out his voice; +Another and another answer him, + Clapping their proud tails to the ground below, + Shaking their scratch'd ears, bleeding as they go. + +Look, how the world's poor people are amaz'd 925 +At apparitions, signs, and prodigies, +Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gaz'd, +Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; 928 + So she at these sad sighs draws up her breath, + And, sighing it again, exclaims on Death. + +'Hard-favour'd tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean, 931 +Hateful divorce of love,'--thus chides she Death,-- +'Grim-grinning ghost, earth's worm, what dost thou mean +To stifle beauty and to steal his breath, + Who when he liv'd, his breath and beauty set + Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet? 936 + +'If he be dead, O no! it cannot be, +Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it; +O yes! it may; thou hast no eyes to see, +But hatefully at random dost thou hit. 940 + Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart + Mistakes that aim and cleaves an infant's heart. + +'Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke, +And, hearing him, thy power had lost his power. 944 +The Destinies will curse thee for this stroke; +They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck'st a flower. + Love's golden arrow at him shoull have fled, + And not Death's ebon dart, to strike him dead. 948 + +'Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok'st such weeping? +What may a heavy groan advantage thee? +Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping +Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see? 952 + Now Nature cares not for thy mortal vigour + Since her best work is ruin'd with thy rigour.' + +Here overcome, as one full of despair, +She vail'd her eyelids, who, like sluices, stopp'd 956 +The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair +In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp'd + But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain, + And with his strong course opens them again. 960 + +O! how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow; +Her eyes seen in the tears, tears in her eye; +Both crystals, where they view'd each other's sorrow, +Sorrow that friendly sighs sought still to dry; 964 + But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain, + Sighs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again. + +Variable passions throng her constant woe, +As striving who should best become her grief; 968 +All entertain'd, each passion labours so, +That every present sorrow seemeth chief, +But none is best; then join they all together, +Like many clouds consulting for foul weather. 972 + +By this, far off she hears some huntsman holloa; +A nurse's song no'er pleas'd her babe so well: +The dire imagination she did follow +This sound of hope doth labour to expel; 976 + For now reviving joy bids her rejoice, + And flatters her it is Adonis' voice. + +Whereat her tears began to turn their tide, +Being prison'd in her eye, like pearls in glass; 980 +Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside, +Which her cheek melts, as scorning it should pass + To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground, + Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown'd. + +O hard-believing love! how strange it seems 985 +Not to believe, and yet too credulous; +Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes; +Despair and hope make thee ridiculous: 988 + The one doth flatter thee in thoughts unlikely, + In likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly. + +Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought, +Adonis lives, and Death is not to blame; 992 +It was not she that call'd him all to naught, +Now she adds honours to his hateful name; + She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings, + Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996 + +'No, no,' quoth she, 'sweet Death, I did but jest; +Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear +Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast, +Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000 + Then, gentle shadow,--truth I must confess-- + I rail'd on thee, fearing my love's decease. + +'Tis not my fault: the boar provok'd my tongue; +Be wreak'd on him, invisible commander; 1004 +'Tis he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong; +I did but act, he 's author of my slander: + Grief hath two tongues: and never woman yet, + Could rule them both without ten women's wit.' + +Thus hoping that Adonis is alive, 1009 +Her rash suspect sile doth extenuate; +And that his beauty may the better thrive, +With Death she humbly doth insinuate; 1012 + Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs; and stories + His victories, his triumphs, and his glories. + +'O Jove!' quoth she, 'how much a fool was I, +To be of such a weak and silly mind 1016 +To wail his death who lives and must not die +Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind; + For he being dead, with him is beauty slain, + And, beauty dead, black chaos comes again. 1020 + +'Fie, fie, fond love! thou art so full of fear +As one with treasure laden, hemm'd with thieves +Trifles, unwitnessed with eye or ear, +Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.' 1024 + Even at this word she hears a merry horn + Whereat she leaps that was but late forlorn. + +As falcon to the lure, away she flies; +The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light; 1028 +And in her haste unfortunately spies +The foul boar's conquest on her fair delight; + Which seen, her eyes, as murder'd with the view, + Like stars asham'd of day, themselves withdrew: + +Or, as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, 1033 +Shrinks backwards in his shelly cave with pain, +And there, all smother'd up, in shade doth sit, +Long after fearing to creep forth again; 1036 + So, at his bloody view, her eyes are fled + Into the deep dark cabills of her head; + +Where they resign their office and their light +To the disposing of her troubled brain; 1040 +Who bids them still consort with ugly night, +And never wound the heart with looks again; + Who, like a king perplexed in his throne, + By their suggestion gives a deadly groan, 1044 + +Whereat each tributary subject quakes; +As when the wind, imprison'd in the ground, +Struggling for passage, earth's foundation shakes, +Which with cold terror doth men's minds confound. + This mutiny each part doth so surprise l049 + That from their dark beds once more leap her eyes; + +And, being open'd, threw unwilling light +Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench'd +In his soft flank; whose wonted lily white 1053 +With purple tears, that his wound wept, was drench'd: + No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf, or weed + But stole his blood and seem'd with him to bleed. + +This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth, 1057 +Over one shoulder doth she hang her head, +Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth; +She thinks he could not die, he is not dead: 1060 + Her voice is stopp'd, her joints forget to bow, + Her eyes are mad that they have wept till now. + +Upon his hurt she looks so steadfastly, +That her sight dazzling makes the wound seem three; +And then she reprehends her mangling eye, 1065 +That makes more gashes where no breach should be: + His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled; + For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled. + +'My tongue cannot express my grief for one, 1069 +And yet,' quoth she, 'behold two Adons dead! +My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone, +Mine eyes are turn'd to fire, my heart to lead: 1072 + Heavy heart's lead, melt at mine eyes' red fire! + So shall I die by drops of hot desire. + +'Alas! poor world, what treasure hast thou lost! +What face remains alive that's worth the viewing? +Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast +Of things long since, or anything ensuing? 1078 + The flowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim; + But true-sweet beauty liv'd and died with him. + +'Bonnet nor veil henceforth no creature wear! 1081 +Nor sun nor wind will ever strive to kiss you: +Having no fair to lose, you need not fear; +The sun doth scorn you, and the wind doth hiss you: + But when Adonis liv'd, sun and sharp air 1085 + Lurk'd like two thieves, to rob him of his fair: + +'And therefore would he put his bonnet on, +Under whose brim the gaudy sun would peep; 1088 +The wind would blow it off, and, being gone, +Play with his locks: then would Adonis weep; + And straight, in pity of his tender years, + They both would strive who first should dry his tears. + +'To see his face the lion walk'd along 1093 +Behind some hedge, because he would not fear him; +To recreate himself when he hath sung, +The tiger would be tame and gently hear him; 1096 + If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey, + And never fright the silly lamb that day. + +'When he beheld his shadow in the brook, +The fishes spread on it their golden gills; 1100 +When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, +That some would sing, some other in their bills + Would bring him mulberries and ripe-red cherries + He fed them with his sight, they him with berries. + +'But this foul, grim, and urchin-spouted boar, 1105 +Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave, +Ne'er saw the beauteous livery that he wore; +Witness the entertainment that he gave: 1108 + If he did see his face, why then I know + He thought to kiss him, and hath killed him so. + +''Tis true, 'tis true; thus was Adonis slain: +He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, 1112 +Who did not whet his teeth at him again, +But by a kiss thought to persuade him there; + And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine + Sheath'd unaware the tusk in his soft groin. 1116 + +'Had I been tooth'd like him, I must confess, +With kissing him I should have kill'd him first; +But he is dead, and never did he bless +My youth with his; the more am I accurst.' 1120 + With this she falleth in the place she stood, + And stains her face with his congealed blood. + +Sho looks upon his lips, and they are pale; +She takes him by the hand, and that is cold; 1124 +She whispers in his ears a heavy tale, +As if they heard the woeful words she told; +She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes, +Where, lo! two lamps, burnt out, in darkness lies; + +Two glasses where herself herself beheld 1129 +A thousand times, and now no more reflect; +Their virtue lost, wherein they late excell'd, +And every beauty robb'd of his effect: 1132 + 'Wonder of time,' quoth she, 'this is my spite, + That, you being dead, the day should yet be light. + +'Since thou art dead, lo! here I prophesy, +Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend: 1136 +It shall be waited on with jealousy, +Find sweet beginning, but unsavoury end; + Ne'er settled equally, but high or low; + That all love's pleasure shall not match his woe. + +'It shall be fickle, false, and full of fraud, 1141 +Bud and be blastod in a breathing-while; +The bottom poison, and the top o'erstraw'd +With sweets that shall the truest sight beguile: 1144 + The strongest body shall it make most weak, + Strike the wise dumb and teach the fool to speak. + +'It shall be sparing and too full of riot, +Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; 1148 +The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet, +Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures; + It shall be raging mad, and silly mild, + Make the young old, the old become a child. 1152 + +'It shall suspect where is no cause of fear; +It shall not fear where it should most mistrust; +It shall be merciful, and too severe, +And most deceiving when it seems most just; 1156 + Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward, + Put fear to velour, courage to the coward. + +'It shall be cause of war and dire events, +And set dissension 'twixt the son and sire; 1160 +Subject and servile to all discontents, +As dry combustious matter is to fire: + Sith in his prime Death doth my love destroy, + They that love best their love shall not enjoy.' 1164 + +By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd +Was melted like a vapour from her sight, +And in his blood that on the ground lay spill'd, +A purple flower sprung up, chequer'd with white; 1168 + Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood + Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood. + +She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell, +Comparing it to her Adonis' breath; 1172 +And says within her bosom it shall dwell, +Since he himself is reft from her by death: + She drops the stalk, and in the breach appears + Green dropping sap, which she compares to tears. + +'Poor flower,' quoth she, 'this was thy father's guise, +Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire, +For every little grief to wet his eyes: +To grow unto himself was his desire, 1180 + And so 'tis shine; but know, it is as good + To wither in my breast as in his blood. + +'Here was thy father's bed, here in my breast; +Thou art the next of blood, and 'tis thy right: 1184 +Lo! in this hollow cradle take thy rest, +My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and night: + There shall not be one minute in an hour + Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower.' + +Thus weary of the world, away she hies, 1189 +And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid +Their mistress, mounted, through the empty skies +In her light chariot quickly is convey'd; 1192 + Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen + Means to immure herself and not be seen. + + + + + +End Project Gutenberg Etext of Venus and Adonis + diff --git a/old/old/wsvns10.zip b/old/old/wsvns10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..33de0ac --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/wsvns10.zip |