Englands Helicon :: :: University of Virginia Library

Venus faire did ride,
siluer Doues they drew her,
By the pleasant lawnds
ere the Sunne did rise:
Uestaes beautie rich
opend wide to view her,
Philomel records
pleasing Harmonies.
Euery bird of spring
cheerefully did sing,
Paphos Goddesse they salute:
Now Loues Queene so faire,
had of mirth no care,
for her Sonne had made her mute.
In her breast so tender
He a shaft did enter,
when her eyes beheld a boy:
Adonis was he named,
By his Mother shamed,
yet he now is Venus ioy.

Him alone she met,
ready bound for hunting,
Him she kindly greetes,
and his iourney stayes:
Him she seekes to kisse
no deuises wanting,
Him her eyes still wooe,
him her tongue still prayes.
He with blushing red
Hangeth downe the head,
not a kisse can he afford:
His face is turn'd away,
Silence sayd her nay,
still she woo'd him for a word.

Speake shee said thou fairest,
Beautie thou impairest,
see mee, I am pale and wan:
Louers all adore mee,
I for loue implore thee,
christall teares with that downe ran.

Him heere-with shee forc'd
to come sit downe by her,
Shee his necke embrac'de
gazing in his face:
Hee like once transformd
stird no looke to eye her
Euery hearbe did wooe him
growing in that place.
Each bird with a dittie,
prayed him for pitty
in behalfe of beauties Queene:
Waters gentle murmour,
craued him to loue her,
yet no liking could be seene.
Boy shee say'd, looke on mee,
Still I gaze vpon thee,
speake I pray thee my delight:
Coldly hee replyed,
And in breefe denyed,
to bestow on her a sight.

I am now too young,
to be wunne by beauty,
Tender are my yeeres
I am yet a bud:
Fayre thou art, shee said
then it is thy dutie,
Wert thou but a blossome
to effect my good.
Euery beauteous flower,
boasteth in my power,

Byrds and beasts my lawes effect:
Mirrha thy faire mother,
most of any other,
did my louely hests respect.
Be with me delighted,
Thou shalt be requited,
euery Nimph on thee shall tend:
All the Gods shall loue thee,
Man shall not reproue thee,
Loue himselfe shall be thy freend.

Wend thee from mee Venus,
I am not disposed,
Thou wring'st mee too hard,
pre-thee let me goe:
Fie, what a paine it is
thus to be enclosed,
If loue begin with labour,
it will end in woe.
kisse mee, I will leaue,
heere a kisse receiue,
a short kisse I doe it find:
Wilt thou leaue me so?
yet thou shalt not goe,
breathe once more thy balmie wind.
It smelleth of the Mirh-tree,
That to the world did bring thee,
neuer was perfume so sweet:
When she had thus spoken,
Shee gaue him a token,
and theyr naked bosoms meet.

Now hee sayd, let's goe,
harke, the hounds are crying,
Grieslie Boare is vp,
Hunts-men follow fast:
At the name of Boare,
Venus seemed dying,

Deadly coloured pale,
Roses ouer-cast.
Speake sayd shee, no more,
of following the Boare,
thou vnfit for such a chase:
Course the fearefull Hare,
Venson doe not spare,
if thou wilt yeeld Uenus grace.
Shun the Boare I pray thee,
Else I still will stay thee,
herein he vowed to please her minde,
Then her armes enlarged,
Loth shee him discharged,
forth he went as swift as winde.

Thetis Phœbus Steedes
in the West retained,
Hunting sport was past,
Loue her loue did seeke:
Sight of him too soone
gentle Queene shee gained,
On the ground he lay
blood had left his cheeke.
For an orped Swine,
smit him in the groyne,
deadly wound his death did bring:
Which when Uenus found,
shee fell in a swound,
and awakte, her hands did wring.
Nimphs and Satires skipping,
Came together tripping,
Eccho euery cry exprest:
Uenus by her power,
Turnd him to a flower,
which shee weareth in her creast.

FINIS.

H. C.