Sonnet III. Venus, and young Adonis sitting by her

Bartholomew Griffin (d. 1602)

VENUS, and young ADONIS sitting by her,

Under a myrtle shade, began to woo him;

She told the youngling, how god MARS did try her,

And as he fell to her, so fell she to him.

“Even thus,” quoth she, “the wanton god embraced me!”

And then she clasped ADONIS in her arms;

“Even thus,” quoth she, “the warlike god unlaced me!”

As if the boy should use like loving charms.

But he, a wayward boy, refused the offer,

And ran away! the beauteous Queen neglecting;

Showing both folly to abuse her proffer,

And all his sex, of cowardice detecting.

O that I had my Mistress at that bay!

To kiss and clip me, till I ran away!