Venus and
Adonis
Even as the sun with purple-coloured face
Had taken his last leave of the weeping morn
Rose-cheeked Adonis hied him to the chase
Hunting he loved, but love he laughed to scorn
Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him
And like a bold-faced suitor 'gins to woo him
Thrice fairer than myself,' thus she began
'The field's chief flower, 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 know
Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses
And being set, I'll smother thee with kisses
'And yet not cloy thy lips with loathed satiety
But rather famish them amid their plenty
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
Lyrics by William Shakespeare
From
Venus and
Adonis