RIGHT HONORABLE HENRIE WRIOTHESLEY, Earle of Southampton, and Baron of Titchfield. RIGHT HONOURABLE, I KNOW not how I shall offend in dedicating my vnpolisht lines to your Lordship, nor how the worlde will censure me for for choosing so strong a broppe to support so queake a burthen, onely if your Honour seeme but pleased, I account my selfe bighly praised, and vowe to take aduantage of all idle houres, till I haue honoured you with some grauer labour. But if the first heire of my inuention proue deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather: and neuer after eare so barren a land, for fear it yeeld me still so bad a haruest, I leave it to your Honourable suruey, and your Honor to your hearts content which I wish may alwaies answere your owne wish, and the worlds hopefull expectation. Your Honors in all dutie, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 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, Nature that made thee, with herself at strife, IO Vouchsafe, thou wonder, to alight thy steed, Here come and sit, where never serpent hisses, 'And yet not cloy thy lips with loathed satiety, With this she seizeth on his sweating palm, Being so enraged, desire doth lend her force ; 20 30 Over one arm the lusty courser's rein, She red and hot as coals of glowing fire, The studded bridle on a ragged bough To tie the rider she begins to prove : Backward she push'd him, as she would be thrust, So soon was she along as he was down, And kissing speaks, with lustful language broken, 40 |