LXXVIII
Venus, possessed with boding fear,
Doth counsel her Adonis dear,
That he in nowise should pursue
Fierce beasts, lest she his death may rue.
Venus counsels Adonis
Venus counsels Adonis
Dear friend, when you with pack unleasht
Arouse some noble woodland beast,
Which hath nor wit nor will to light,
But forthwith takes to hasty flight,
Pursue it well and hardily;
But if some quarries fierce there be,16450
Who tusks or horns against you turn,
Engage you not in combat stern
And perilous, but show you slack
Towards all that fear not thy attack,
For ’gainst rude beasts of savage strain
Full oft is desperate courage vain,
And mortal proves the combat when
At bay they pit them against men.
Roebuck and goats, young stags and hinds,
And harmless game of lesser kinds,16460
Are such as I would have you chase,
With blithesome heart and gladsome face.
But wild boars, dight with deadly tooth,
Bears, wolves, and lions, void of ruth,
Pursue not—I forbid it you,
For they defend themselves and strew
The dogs around them, maimed or dead,
And many a hunter bold hath bled
’Neath their attack, and rued the day
He sought to make such foes his prey.16470
O list my ardent prayer, for I
Were reft of light if you should die.
Adonis heeds not
Thus lovingly doth Venus scold
Adonis, praying him to hold
Fast fixed in memory all she saith,
Lest in the woodland find he death.
Adonis but a careless ear
Afforded to his leman dear;
Whether or true or false might be
Her words, while seeming to agree,16480
He heeded them no single straw.
In vain she strives ’neath love’s sweet law
To bring his will—he heeds her not.
Nor for her warning cares one jot.
He for his scorn did dearly pay
With life, when Venus was away,
Too far to lend him timely aid,
And long ’twas ere her tears were stayed.
One day he chased a furious boar,
The which he deemed to triumph o’er16490
And carve on board, but out, alas!
Nor killed, nor carved by him it was,
For in his rage, the angry beast
Turned on the hunter, and ne’er ceased
His fury till his tusks had rent
Adonis’ thigh, whose life was shent.
Heed Love’s warnings
Fair sirs, what thing soe’er may be,
From this example learn may ye.
That those who sweethearts’ words despise
Approve themselves aught else but wise,16500
For well behoveth it, their rede
As words of Holy Writ to heed.
Swear they that love for you they foster?
Believe them like the paternoster.
To credit them ne’er hesitate,
But to dame Reason show the gate.
Nay, though an oath on crucifix
She sware to you—despise her tricks—
For had Adonis but believed
His love, much longer had he lived.16510
When they together, little coy,
Had spent long hours in loving joy,
To Cythera once more they made
Their way. Then ere yet rearrayed
Was Venus, forth the heralds tell
From point to end how all befell.
Cried Venus: Ne’er shall Jealousy
A castle keep ’gainst Love and me,
The guardians will I burn with fire,
Unless both keys and fort entire16520
They yield, or soon my torch and bow
Will men account mere sticks, I trow.