Page 2243 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent; [315]
He stamps, and bites the poor flies in his fume.
His love perceiving how he was enrag’d,
Grew kinder, and his fury was assuag’d.

His testy master goeth about to take him,

When lo the unback’d breeder, full of fear, [320]
Jealous of catching, swiftly doth forsake him;
With her the horse, and left Adonis there:

As they were mad unto the wood they hie them,
Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them.

All swoln with chafing, down Adonis sits, [325]
Banning his boist’rous and unruly beast.
And now the happy season once more fits

That love-sick love by pleading may be blest;
For lovers say, the heart hath treble wrong,
When it is barr’d the aidance of the tongue. [330]

An oven that is stopp’d, or river stay’d,
Burneth more hotly, swelleth with more rage:

So of concealed sorrow may be said
Free vent of words love’s fire doth assuage;
But when the heart’s attorney once is mute, [335]
The client breaks, as desperate in his suit.

He sees her coming, and begins to glow,

Even as a dying coal revives with wind;
And with his bonnet hides his angry brow,
Looks on the dull earth with disturbed mind, [340]
Taking no notice that she is so nigh,

For all askance he holds her in his eye.

O what a sight it was, wistly to view
How she came stealing to the wayward boy!
To note the fighting conflict of her hue, [345]
How white and red each other did destroy!