# VI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Venus, in a state of longing, waits for Adonis by a brook on a hot morning. When Adonis arrives and strips to bathe, she watches him intently, and he dives into the water to escape her gaze, prompting her to wish she were the flood embracing him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

Venus's intense longing and gaze as she watches Adonis undress and bathe, wishing to be the water that touches him.

### Beauty and Transience

The fleeting moment of Adonis's youthful, naked beauty in the sunlight, contrasted with the heat of the day and Venus's unfulfilled desire.

## Character check-ins

### Venus

Cytherea, all in love forlorn, waits longingly for Adonis by a brook and gazes at him as he undresses and enters the water.

### Adonis

Arrives at the brook, throws off his mantle, and stands naked on the brim before diving into the water to avoid Venus.

### Jove

Invoked by Venus in her exclamation 'O Jove,' wishing she were a flood to embrace Adonis.

## Key lines

> Scarce had the sun dried up the dewy morn, And scarce the herd gone to the hedge for shade, When Cytherea, all in love forlorn, A longing tarriance for Adonis made

The morning dew had barely evaporated and the cattle had just sought shade when Venus, lovesick and desolate, waited impatiently for Adonis.

_Establishes the setting and Venus's emotional state of longing._

> Anon he comes, and throws his mantle by, And stood stark naked on the brook’s green brim: The sun look’d on the world with glorious eye, Yet not so wistly as this queen on him.

Soon Adonis arrives, casts off his cloak, and stands completely naked at the edge of the brook. The sun shone brightly on the world, but not as intently as Venus gazed upon him.

_Highlights Venus's intense, desiring gaze at Adonis's naked body._

> He, spying her, bounced in, whereas he stood: “O Jove,” quoth she, “why was not I a flood!”

Seeing her, he immediately jumped into the water. Venus cried out, 'O Jove, why am I not a flood!'

_Adonis escapes her gaze by diving in, and Venus wishes she were the water to embrace him._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters