Page 2244 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

But now her cheek was pale, and by and by
It flash’d forth fire, as lightning from the sky.

Now was she just before him as he sat,
And like a lowly lover down she kneels; [350]
With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat,

Her other tender hand his fair cheek feels:
His tend’rer cheek receives her soft hand’s print,
As apt as new-fall’n snow takes any dint.

Oh what a war of looks was then between them! [355]
Her eyes petitioners to his eyes suing,

His eyes saw her eyes, as they had not seen them,
Her eyes woo’d still, his eyes disdain’d the wooing;
And all this dumb play had his acts made plain

With tears, which chorus-like her eyes did rain. [360]

Full gently now she takes him by the hand,
A lily prison’d in a gaol of snow,
Or ivory in an alablaster band:
So white a friend engirts so white a foe.

This beauteous combat, wilful and unwilling, [365]
Show’d like two silver doves that sit a-billing.

Once more the engine of her thoughts began:
«O fairest mover on this mortal round,
Would thou wert as I am, and I a man,

My heart all whole as thine, thy heart my wound! [370]
For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee,
Though nothing but my body’s bane would cure thee».

«Give me my hand», said he, «why dost thou feel it?»

«Give me my heart», saith she, «and thou shalt have it.
O give it me lest thy hard heart do steel it, [375]
And being steel’d, soft sighs can never grave it.
Then love’s deep groans I never shall regard,
Because Adonis’ heart hath made mine hard».