按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
VENUS AND ADONIS
William Shakespeare
1
… Page 2…
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。
2
… Page 3…
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；
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；
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 loath'd 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。'
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：
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；
Who blush'd and pouted in a dull disdain； With leaden appetite； unapt
3
… Page 4…
to toy； She red and hot as coals of glowing fire He red for shame； but
frosty in desire。
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：
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：
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。'
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：
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；
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。
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；
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；
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。
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
4
… Page 5…
and anger ashy…pale；
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；
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
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；
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。
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？
'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；
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；
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。
'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。
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
5
… Page 6…
so fair； yet are they red；
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？
'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：
These blue…vein'd violets whereon we lean Never can blab； nor know
not what we mean。
'The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
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。
'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；
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；
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。
'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