VENUS AND ADONIS.

25 This dismal cry rings sadly in her ear,

“ Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok’st suche Through which it enters to surprise her heart,

weeping ?
Wbo, overcome by doubt and bloodless fear, What may a beavy groan advantage thee?

With cold pale weakness numbs each feeling part: Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping
Like soldiers, when their captain once doth yield, Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see?
They basely fly, and dare not stay the field. Now Nature cares not for thy mortal vigour,

Since her best work is ruin'd with thy rigour."
Thus stands she in a trembling ecstasy ;

Till, cheering up her senses sore-dismay'd, Here overcome, as one full of despair,
Sbe tells them, 't is a causeless fantasy,

She veil'd her eye-lids, who, like sluices, stopp'd
And cbildish errour that they are afraid ; The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair
Bids them leave quaking, wills them fear no more;- In the sweet channel of her bosom dropp'd;
And with that word she spy'd the hunted boar; But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain,

And with his strong course opens them again.
Whose frothy month, bepainted all with red,

Like milk and blood being mingled both together, O how her eyes and tears did lend and borrow!
A second fear through all her sinews spread, Her eyes seen in her tears, tears in her eye;

Which madly hurries her she knows not whither; Both crystals where they view'd each other's sorrow, This way she runs, and now she will no further, Sorrow, that friendly sighs sought still to dry; But back retires, to rate the boar for murder. But like a stormy day, now wind, now rain,

Sigbs dry her cheeks, tears make them wet again,
A thousand spleens bear ber a thousand ways;

Sbe treads the paths that she untreads again; Variable passions throng her constant woe,
Her inore than haste is mated with delays,

As striving which should best become her grief;
Like the proceedings of a dranken brain; All entertain'd, each passion labours so,
Full of respect, yet nought at all respecting, That every present sorrow seemeth chief,
In band with all things, nought at all effectiog. But none is best; then join they all together,

Like many clouds cousulting for foul weather.
Here kennel'd in a brake she finds a hound,

And asks the weary caitiff for his master; By this, far off she bears some huntsman bolla ;
And there another licking of his wound,

A nurse's song ne'er pleas'd her babe so well:
'Gainst venom'd sores the only sovereign plaster; The dire imagination she did follow
And bere she meets another, sadly scowling,

This sound of hope doth labour to expell;
To whom she speaks; and he replies with howling. For now reviving joy bids her rejoice,

And flatters her, it is Adonis' voice.
When be had ceas'd his ill-resounding noise,

Another flap-mouth'd mourner, black and grim, Whereat her tears began to turn their tide,
Against the welkin vollies out his voice;

Being prison'd in her eye, like pearls in glass;
Another and another answer him,

Yet sometimes falls an orient drop beside,
Clapping their proud tails to the ground below, Which her cheek melts, as scoroing it should pass,
Shaking their scratch'd ears bleeding as they go.

To wash the foul face of the sluttish ground,

Who is but drunken when she seemeth drown'd.
Look, how the world's poor people are amazed,
At apparitions, signs, and prodigies,

O hard-believing love, how strange it seems
Whereon with fearful eyes they long have gazed, Not to believe, and yet too credulous !

Infusing them with dreadful prophecies; Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes,
So she at these sad signs draws ap her breath, Despair and hope make thee ridiculous:
And, sighing it again, exclaims on Death.

The one doth fatter thee in thoughts unlikely,

With likely thoughts the other kills thee quickly.
“ Hard-favour'd tyrant, ugly, meagre, lean,

Hateful divorce of love," thus chides she Death; Now she unweaves the web that she had wrought;
Grim-grinning ghost, Earth's worm, what dost Adonis lives, and Death is not to blame;
tbou mean

It was not she that call'd him all to nanght;
To stifle beauty, and to steal his breath,

Now she adds honour to his hateful name;
Who when he liv'd, his breath and beauty set She clepes hiin king of graves, and grave for kings,
Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet ?

Imperial supreme of ali mortal things.
“ If he be dead-O no, it cannot be,

“ No, no," quoth she, “sweet Death, I did but jest ;
Seeing his beauty, thou should'st strike at it- Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear,
O yes, it may; thou hast no eyes to see, When as I met the boar, that bloody beast,
Bat hatefully at random dost thou hit.

Which knows no pity, but is still severe;
Thy mark is feeble age; but thy false dart Then, gentle shadow, (truth I must confess)
Mistakes that aim, and cleaves an infant's heart. I rail'd on thee, fearing my love's decease,
* Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke,

“ 'Tis not my fault: the boar provok'd my tongue ;
And hearing him, thy power had lost his power. Be wreak'd on him, invisible commander;
The Destinies will curse thee for this stroke; 'T is he, foul creature, that hath done thee wrong;

They bid thee crop a weed, thou pluck'st a flower. I did but act, he 's author of thy slander;
Love's golden arrow at him should have fled, Grief hath two tongues, and never woman yet
And not Death's ebon dart, to strike him dead. Could rule them both, without ten women's wit."

Thus hoping that Adonis is alive,

My tongue cannot express my grief for one, Her rash suspect she doth extenuate;

And yet," quoth she, “ behold two Adons dead! And that his beauty may the better thrise, My sighs are blown away, my salt tears gone, With Death she humbly duth insinuate;

Mine eyes are turn'd to fire, my heart to lead : Tells him of trophies, statues, tombs; and stories Heavy heart's lead melt at mine eyes, as fire ! His yictories, his triumphs, and his glories. So shall I die by drops of hot desire. “ O Jove," quoth she, “ how much a fool was I, “ Alas, poor world, what treasure hast thou lost! To be of such a weak and silly mind,

What face remains alive that's worth the viewing? To wail his death, who lives, ard must not die, Whose tongue is music now? what canst thou boast Till mutual overthrow of mortal kind !

Of things long since, or any thing ensuing? For he being dead, with him is beauty slain, The fowers are sweet, their colours fresh and trim; And, beauty dead, black chaos comes again. But true-sweet beauty liv'd and dy'd in him. “ Fie, fie, fond Love, thou art so full of fear, “ Bonnet or veil henceforth no creature wear!

As one with treasure laden, hemm'd with thieves; Nor Sun por wind will ever strive to kiss you: Trifes, unwitnessed with eye or ear,

Having no fair to lose, you need not fear; Thy coward heart with false bethinking grieves.” The Sun doth scorn you,and the wind doth hiss you. Even at this word she hears a merry horn, But when Adonis liv'd, Sun and sharp air Whereat she leaps, that was but late forlorn. Lurk'd like two thieves, to rob him of bis fair; As faulcon to the lure, away she fies;

“ And therefore would be put his bonnet on, The grass stoops not, she treads on it so light ; Under whose brim the gawdy Sun would peep; And in her haste unfortunately spies

The wind would blow it off, and, being gone, The foul boar's conquest on her fair delight; Play with bis locks; then would Adonis weep: Which seen, her eyes, as murder'd with the view, And straight, in pity of his tender years, Like stars asham'd of day, themselves withdrew. They both would strive who first should dry his tears. Or, as the snail, whose tender horns being hit, “ To see his face, the lion walk'd along

Shrinks backward in his shelly cave with pain, Behind some hedge, because he would not fear And there, all smother'd up, in shade doth sit,

him ; Long after fearing to creep forth again; To recreate himself, when he hath sung, So, at his bloody view, her eyes are fled

The tiger would be tame, and gently hear him: Into the deep dark cabins of her head,

If he had spoke, the wolf would leave his prey,

And never fright the silly lamb that day.
Where they resign'd their office and their light
To the disposing of her troubled brain;

“ When he beheld his shadow in the brook, Who bids them still consort with ugly night,

The fishes spread on it their golden gills; And never wound the heart with looks again; When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, Who, like a king perplexed in his throne,

That some would sing, some other in their bills By their suggestion gives a deadly groan. Would bring him mulberries, and ripe red cherries;

He fed them with his sight, they him with berries. Whereat each tributary subject quakes ;

As when the wind, imprison'd in the ground, “ But this foul, grim, and urchin-snouted boar, Struggling for passage, Earth's foundation shakes, Whose downward eye still looketh for a grave,

Which with cold terrours doth men's mind con- Ne'er saw the beauteous livery that he wore; This mutiny each part doth so surprise, [found : Witness the entertainment that he gave; That from their dark beds, once more, leap hereyes; If he did see his face, why theo I know,

He thought to kiss him, and hath kill'd him so. And, being open'd, threw unwilling sight

Upon the wide wound that the boar had trench'd “ 'T is true, 't is true; thus was Adonis slain ; In his soft flank; whose wonted lily white

He ran upon the boar with his sharp spear, With purple tears, that his wound wept, was Who would not whet his teeth at him again, drench'd :

But by a kiss thought to persuade him there; No flower was nigh, no grass, herb, leaf, or weed, And ouzzling in his fiank, the loving swine But stole his blood, and seem'd with him to bleed. Sheath'd, unaware, his tusk in his soft groin. This solemn sympathy poor Venus noteth ; “ Had I been tooth'd like him, I must confess

Over one shoulder doth she hang her head; With kissing him I should have kill'd him first; Dumbly she passions, franticly she doteth ; But he is dead, and never did he bless

She thinks he could not die, he is not dead. My youth with his; the more I am accurs'd." Her voice is stopp’d, her joints forget to bow; With this she falleth in the place she stood, Her eyes are mad that they have wept till pow. And stains her face with his congealed blood. Upon his hurt she looks so stedfastly, [three; She looks upon his lips, and they are pale;

That her sight dazzling makes the wound scem She takes him by the hand, and that is cold; And then she reprehends ber mangling eye, [be: She whispers in his ear a heavy tale,

That makes more gashes where po breach should As if he heard the woeful words she told : His face seems twain, each several limb is doubled; She lifts the coffer-lids that close his eyes, For oft the eye mistakes, the brain being troubled. Where lo! two lamps, burnt out, in darkness lies:

a

THE

TO THE

ance.

Two glasses, where herself herself beheld

Thus, weary of the world, away she hies, A thousand times, and now no more reflect; And yokes her silver doves; by whose swift aid Their virtue lost, wherein they late excellid, Their mistress mounted, through the empty skies And every beauty robb’d of his effect :

In her light chariot quickly is convey'd, " Wonder of time,' quoth she, “this is my spite, Holding their course to Papbos, where their queen That, you being dead, the day should yet be light. Means to immure herself, and not be seen. * Since thou art dead, lo! here I prophesy,

Sorrow on love hereafter shall attend ; It shall be waited on with jealousy,

Find sweet beginning, but upsavoury end; Ne'er settled equally, too high or low;

RAPE OF LUCRECE. That all love's pleasure shall not match his woe. * It shall be fickle, false, and full of fraud,

And shall be blasted in a breathing-while ;
The bottom poison, and the top o'erstraw'd

With sweets, that shall the sharpest sight beguile: RIGHT HON. HENRY WRIOTHESLY,
The strongest body shall it make most weak,
Strike the wise dumb, and teach the fool to speak. EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD.
* It shall be sparing, and too full of riot,

The love I dedicate to your lordship is without
Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures;
The staring ruffian shall it keep in quiet, [sures.

end; whereof this pamphlet, without beginning, Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with trea- is but a superfluons moiety. The warrant I have It shall be raging-mad, and silly-mild,

of your honourable disposition, not the worth of Make the young old, the old become a child.

my untutored lines, makes it assured of accept“ It shall suspect, where is no cause of fear;

What I have done is yours, what I have It shall not fear, where it should most mistrust; to do is yours ; being part in all I bave devoted It shall be merciful, and too severe,

yours. Were my worth greater, my duty would And most deceiving, when it seems most just; Perverse it shall be, when it seems most toward,

show greater: mean time, as it is, it is bound to Put fear to valour, courage to the coward. your lordship, to whom I wish long life, still

lengthened with all happiness. " It shall be cause of war, and dire events, And set dissention 'twixt the son and fire ;

Your lordship's in all duty, Sabject and servile to all discontents,

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. As dry combustious matter is to fire ; Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy, They that love best, their love shall not enjoy.”

THE ARGUMENT. By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd,

Was melted like a vapour from her sight, Lucius Tarquinius (for his excessive pride surAnd in his blood that on the ground lay spill'd, named Superbus) after he had caused his own

A purple flower sprung up, chequer'd with white; father-in-law, Servius Tullius, to be cruelly murResembling well his pale cheeks, and the blood dered, and, contrary to the Roman laws and Which in round drops upon their whiteness stood. customs, not requiring or staying for the peo

ple's suffrages, had possessed himself of the She bows her head, the new-sprung flower to smell, kingdom ; went, accompanied with his sons and Comparing it to her Adonis' breath;

other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea. And says, within her bosom it shall dwell,

During which siege, the principal men of the Since he himself is reft from her by death : army meeting one evening at the tent of Sextus She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses Green dropping sap, which she compares to tears. after supper every one commended the virtues

of his own wife ; among whom, Collatinus ex“ Poor flower," quoth she, “ this was thy father's tolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Luguise,

cretia. In that pleasant bumour they all posted (Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sire) to Roine; and intending, by their secret and For every little grief to wet bis eyes :

sudden arrival, to make trial of that which every To grow unto himself was bis desire,

one had before avouched, only Collatinus finds And so 't is thine; but know, it is as good

his wife (thongh it were late in the night) spinTo wither in my breast, as in bis blood.

ving amongst her maids: the other ladies were

all found dancing and revelling, or in several " Here was thy father's bed, bere in my breast ; disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded

Thou art the next of blood, and 't is thy right : Collatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. lo! in this bollow cradle take thy rest,

At that time Sextus Tarquinius being inflamed Mythrobbing heart shall rock thee day and night: with Lucrece's beauty, yet smothering his pasThere shall not be one minute of an hour,

sions for the present, departed with the rest back Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower." to the camp; from whence he shortly after pri

:

THE

vily withdrew himself, and was (according to Perchance his boast of Lucrece sorereignty
his estate) royally entertained and lodged by Suggested this proud issue of a king;
Lucrece at Collatium. The same night, he For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be:
treacherously stealeth into her chamber, vio- Perchance that envy of so rich a thing,
lently ravished her, and early in the morning Braving compare, disdainfully did stiug [Faunt
speedeth away. “Lucrece, in this lamentable His high-pitch'd thoughts, that meaner men shoa
plight, hastily dispatcheth messengers, one to The golden hap which their superiors want.
Rome for her father, another to the camp for
Collatine. They came, the one accompanied But some untimely thought did instigate
with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Va- His all too-timeless speed, if none of those:
lerius; and finding Lucrece attired in mourning His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state,
habit, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She, Neglected all, with swift intent be goes
first taking an oath of them for her revenge, re- To quench the coal which in his liver glows.
vealed the actor, and whole manner of his deal- O rash-false heat, wrapt in repentant cold,
ing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which Thy hasty spring still blasts, and ne'er grows old!
done, with one consent they all vowed to root
out the whole hated family of the Tarquins; When at Collatium this false lord arriv'd,
and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus ac- Well was he welcom'd by the Roman dame,
quainted the people with the doer and manner Within whose face beauty and virtue striv'd
of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against Which of them both should underprop her fame:
the tyranny of the king: wherewith the people When virtue bragg'd, beauty would blush for shame;
were so moved, that with one consent and a ge- When beauty boasted blushes, in despite
neral acclamation the Tarquins were all exiled, Virtue would stain that or with silver white.
and the state government changed from kings
to consuls.

But beauty, in that white intituled,
From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field;
Then virtue claims from beauty beauty's red,
Which virtue gave the golden age, to gild

Their silver cheeks, and call'd it then their shield;
RAPE OF LUCRECE.

"Teaching them thus to use it in the fight,

When shame assail'd, the red should fence the white. From the besieged Ardea all in post, Borne by the trustless wings of false desire, This heraldry in Lucrece' face was seen, Lust-breathed Tarquin leaves the Roman host, Argued by beauty's red, and virtue's white. And to Collatium bears the lightless fire

Of either's colour was the other queen,
Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire, Proving from world's minority their right :
And girdle with embracing fames the waist Yet their ambition makes them still to fight;
Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece the chaste. The sovereignty of either being so great,

That oft they interchange each other's seat.
Haply that name of chaste unhapp'ly set
This bateless edge on his keen appetite;

This silent war of lilies and of roses
When Collatine imwisely did not let

Which Tarquin view'd in her fair face's field, To praise the clear unmatched red and white In their pure ranks his traitor ege encloses; Which triumph'd in that sky of his delight,

Where, lest between them both it should be kill'd, Where mortal stars, as bright as Heaven's beauties, The coward captive vanquished doth yield With pure aspects did him peculiar duties. To those two armies that would let him go,

Rather than triumph in so false a foe. For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent,

Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue Unlock'd the treasure of his happy state ; What priceless wealth the Heavens had him lent

(The niggard prodigal that prais'd her so)

In that high task hath doue her beauty wrong, In the possession of his beauteous mate;

Which far exceeds his barren skill to show:
Reckoning his fortune at such high-proud rate,
That kings might be espoused to more fame,

Therefore that praise which Collatine doth ove,

Enchanted Tarquin answers with surmise, But king nor peer to such a peerless dame.

In silent wonder of still-gazing eyes. O happiness enjoy'd but of a few !

This earthly saint, adored by this devil, And, if possess'd, as soon decay'd and done

Little suspecteth the false worshipper; As is the morning's silver-melting dew

For thoughts unstain'd do seldom dream on evil; Against the golden splendour of the Sun !

Birds never limb'd no secret bushes fear: An expir'd date, cancel'd ere well begun :

So guiltless shc securely gives good cheer Honour and beauty, in the owner's arms,

And reverend welcome to her princely guest, Are weakly fortress'd from a world of harms. Whose inward ill no outward harm express'd: Beauty itself doth of itself persuade

For that he colour'd with his high estate, The eyes of men without an orator;

Hiding base sin in plaits of majesty; What needeth then apology be made

That nothing in him seem'd inordinate, To set forth that which is so singular?

Save sometime too much wonder of his eye, Or why is Collatine the publisher

Which, having all, all could not satisfy ; Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store, From thjevish ears, because it is his own?

That, cloy'd with much, he pineth still for more.

THE RAPE OF LUCRECE.

29 at she that never cop'd with stranger eyes, Now stole upon the time the dead of night, ould pick no meaning from their parling looks, When heavy sleep had clos’d up mortal eyes; for read the subtle-shining secresies

No comfortable star did lend his light, prit in the glassy margents of such books ; No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding cries : he touchd no unknown bajts, nor fear'd no hooks; Now serves the season that they may surprise for could sbe moralize his wanton sight,

The silly lambs; pare thoughts are dead and still, lore than his eyes were opend to the light. While lust and murder wake to stain and kill. le stories to her ears her husband's fame, And now this lustful lord leap'd from his bed, Vou in the fields of fruitful Italy ;

Throwing his mantle rudely o'er his arm; ind decks with praises Collatine's high name, Is madly toss'd between desire and dread; lade glorious by bis manly chivalry,

The one sweetly flatters, the other feareth harm; Vich bruised arms and wreaths of victory : But honest fear, bewitch'd with lust's foul charm, ler joy with heav'd-up hand she doth express, Doth too too oft betake him to retire, Ind, Fordless, so greets Heaven for his success. Beaten away by brain-sick rude desire. ?ar from the purpose of his coming thither, His falchion on a flint he softly smiteth, He makes excuses for his being there.

That from the cold stone sparks of fire do Ay, No cloudy show of stormy blustering weather Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth, Duth yet in bis fair welkin once appear;

Which must be lode-star to his lustful eye; Dll sable Night, mother of dread and fear, And to the fame thus speaks advisedly : Upon the world dim darkness doth display, " As from this cold Aint I enforc'd this fire, And in her vaulty prison stows the day.

So Lucrece must I force to my desire.” For tben is Tarquin brought unto his bed, Here, pale with fear, he doth premeditate Intending weariness with heavy spright;

The dangers of his loathsome enterprise, For, after sapper, long be questioned

And in his inward mind he doth debate With morlest Lucrece, and wore out the night: What following sorrow may on this arise: Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth fight; Then looking scornfully, he doth despise And every one to rest himself betakes, (wakes. His naked armour of still-slaughter'd lust, Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds that And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust. As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving “ Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not The sundry dangers of his will's obtaining ; To darken her whose light excelleth thine! Yet ever to obtain his will resolving,

And die, anhallow'd thoughts, before you blot
Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining: With your uncleanness that which is divine !
Despair to gain, doth traffic oft for gaining; Offer pure incense to so pure a shrine :
And when great treasure is the meed proposed, Let fair humanity abhor the deed
Though death be adjunct, there's no death supposed. That spots and stains love's modest snow-white weed.
Those that much covet, are with gain so fund, “() shame to knighthood and to shining arms k
That what they have not (that which they possess) | O foul dishonour to my household's grave!
They scatter and unloose it from their bond, O impious act, including all foul harms !
And so, by hoping more, they bave but less; A martial man to be soft fancy's slave!
Or, gaining more, the profit of excess

True valour still a true respect should have;
Is bnt to surfeit, and such griefs sustain,

Then my digression is so vile, so base,
That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain. That it will live engraven in my face.
The aim of all is bat to nurse the life

Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive,
With honour, wealth, and ease, in waining age; And be an eye-sore in my golden coat;
And in this aim there is such thwarting strife, Some loathsome dash the herald will contrive,
That one for all, or all for one we gage;

To cipher me, how fondly I did dote;
As life for honour, in fell battles' rage ;

That my posterity, sham'd with the note,
Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth cost Shall curse my bones, and hold it for no sin
The death of all, and all together lost.

To wish that I their father had not been.
So that in vent'ring ill, we leave to be

" What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?
The things we are, for that which we expect; A dream, a breath, a froth of Meeting joy :
And this ambitious foul infirmity,

Who buys a minute's mirth, to wail a week?
In having much, torments us with defect

Or sells eternity, to get a toy?
Of that we have: so then we do neglect

For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
The thing we have, and, all for want of wit, Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
Make something nothing, by augmenting it. Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?
Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make, “ If Collatipus dream of my intent,
Pawning bis honour to obtain his lust;

Will he not wake, and in a desperate rage
And for himself, himself he must forsake: Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent ?
Then where is truth, if there be no self-trust? This siege that hath engirt bis marriage,
When shall be think to find a stranger just, This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,
When be himself bimself confounds, betrays This dying virtue, this surviving shame,
To slanderous tongues, and wretched hateful days? Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame?