Page:Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis, Lucrece, and other poems (IA shakespearesvenu00shak).pdf/49

 VENUS AND ADONIS.

Even as the sun with purple-colour'd face Had ta'en bis 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: 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 Alower, sweet above compare, 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.

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 kuow: Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses, And being sct I'll smother thee with kisses;