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crest now stand on end；
His nostrils drink the air； and forth again； As from a furnace； vapours
doth he send： His eye； which scornfully glisters like fire； Shows his hot
courage and his high desire。
Sometime he trots； as if he told the steps； With gentle majesty and
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modest pride； Anon he rears upright； curvets and leaps； As who should say；
'Lo！ thus my strength is tried； And this I do to captivate the eye
Of the fair breeder that is standing by。'
What recketh he his rider's angry stir； His flattering 'Holla'； or his
'Stand； I say'？
What cares he now for curb or pricking spur？ For rich caparisons or
trapping gay？ He sees his love； and nothing else he sees； Nor nothing else
with his proud sight agrees。
Look； when a painter would surpass the life； In limning out a well…
proportion'd steed； His art with nature's workmanship at strife； As if the
dead the living should exceed；
So did this horse excel a common one； In shape； in courage； colour；
pace and bone。
Round…hoof'd； short…jointed； fetlocks shag and long； Broad breast； full
eye； small head； and nostril wide； High crest； short ears； straight legs and
passing strong； Thin mane； thick tail； broad buttock； tender hide： Look；
what a horse should have he did not lack； Save a proud rider on so proud a
back。
Sometimes he scuds far off； and there he stares； Anon he starts at
stirring of a feather； To bid the wind a base he now prepares； And whe'r he
run or fly they know not whether；
For through his mane and tail the high wind sings； Fanning the hairs；
who wave like feather'd wings。
He looks upon his love； and neighs unto her； She answers him as if she
knew his mind；
Being proud； as females are； to see him woo her； She puts on outward
strangeness； seems unkind； Spurns at his love and scorns the heat he feels；
Beating his kind embracements with her heels。
Then； like a melancholy malcontent； He vails his tail； that； like a
falling plume； Cool shadow to his melting buttock lent： He stamps； and
bites the poor flies in his fume。
His love； perceiving how he is enrag'd； Grew kinder； and his fury was
assuag'd。
His testy master goeth about to take him； When lo！ the unback'd
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breeder； full of fear；
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； Banning his boisterous 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。
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 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；
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； How white and red each
other did destroy： 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； With one fair hand she heaveth up his hat； Her other tender
hand his fair cheek feels：
His tenderer cheek receives her soft hand's print； As apt as new…fall'n
snow takes any dint。
O！ what a war of looks was then between them； 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。
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Full gently now she takes him by the hand；
A lily prison'd in a gaol of snow； Or ivory in an alabaster band； So
white a friend engirts so white a foe：
This beauteous combat； wilful and unwilling； 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； For one sweet look thy help I would assure thee；
Though nothing but my body's bane would cure thee。'
'Give me my hand；' saith 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； 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。'
'For shame；' he cries； 'let go； and let me go； My day's delight is past；
my horse is gone；
And 'tis your fault I am bereft him so： I pray you hence； and leave me
here alone： For all my mind； my thought； my busy care； Is how to get my
palfrey from the mare。'
Thus she replies： 'Thy palfrey； as he should； Welcomes the warm
approach of sweet desire： Affection is a coal that must be cool'd； Else；
suffer'd； it will set the heart on fire：
The sea hath bounds； but deep desire hath none； Therefore no marvel
though thy horse be gone。
'How like a Jade he stood； tied to the tree； Servilely master'd with a
leathern rein！
But when he saw his love； his youth's fair fee； He held such petty
bondage in disdain； Throwing the base thong from his bending crest；
Enfranchising his mouth； his back； his breast。
'Who sees his true…love in her naked bed； Teaching the sheets a whiter
hue than white； But； when his glutton eye so full hath fed； His other agents
aim at like delight？
Who is so faint； that dare not bo so bold To touch the fire； the weather
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being cold？
'Let me excuse thy courser； gentle boy； And learn of him； I heartily
beseech thee；
To take advantage on presented joy Though I were dumb； yet his
proceedings teach thee。 O learn to love； the lesson is but plain； And once
made perfect； never lost again。
'I know not love；' quoth he； 'nor will not know it； Unless it be a boar；
and then I chase it； 'Tis much to borrow； and I will not owe it； My love to
love is love but to disgrace it；
For I have heard it is a life in death； That laughs and weeps； and all
but with a breath。
'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd？ Who plucks the bud
before one leaf put forth？
If springing things be any jot diminish'd； They wither in their prime；
prove nothing worth； The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young
Loseth his pride； and never waxeth strong。
'You hurt my hand with wringing Iet us part； And leave this idle theme；
this bootless chat： Remove your