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
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:

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