VENUS AND ADONIS. Vilia miretur vulgus, mihi Alavus Apollo Poculo Castalia plena ministret aqua. OVID. B TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TITCHFIELD. my 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 invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after eari so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad 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. i ear] 1. e. plough. VENUS AND ADONIS. Even as the sun with purple-colour'd face Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto 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 |