Venus et Adonis

by William Shakespeare

"Venus et Adonis" by William Shakespeare is a narrative poem published in 1593. Venus, the goddess of love, becomes infatuated with the beautiful young Adonis, who cares only for hunting. She pursues him relentlessly, attempting seduction while he resists her advances. When Adonis insists on hunting a dangerous wild boar despite Venus's warnings, tragic consequences follow. This erotic, comic, and pastoral work explores the nature of love and desire through 1,194 lines of verse, blending classical mythology with Shakespeare's vivid imagination.