Adonis is probably the most beautiful man in the world, but unlike many beautiful men, who are well aware of their own exquisite appearance, Adonis is completely unaware of the way in which his looks seem to hypnotize the opposite sex. He would rather spend his time hunting that with a girl. Venus is the goddess of love, and when she sees Adonis for the first time, she falls in love with him and comes down to earth to meet him. When they meet, Adonis is about to set out on a hunt. She wants him to get down from his horse and talk to her for a little while, but he is not interested in doing so. Just because she's a goddess doesn't mean that Adonis wants to trouble himself to get to know her. She forces him to get off the horse, and proceeds to lie down next to him, talking about love, and staring at him as if entranced. All Venus wants is for Adonis to kiss her. All Adonis wants is for Venus to leave him alone so that he can go hunting. He makes a break for it and goes to get his horse so that he can gallop away.

シェイクスピアの『ヴィーナスとアドニス』は、神聖な官能と冷徹な拒絶が火花を散らす、言葉の魔術師による初期の傑作です。本作最大の魅力は、愛の女神という絶対的な捕食者が、狩猟にのみ生を見出す少年に翻弄されるという、情熱の役割の鮮やかな逆転劇にあります。流麗な詩句が紡ぎ出す触覚的な熱量は、読者の肌を撫でるように生々しく、人間の欲望が持つ奔放さと残酷さを同時に突きつけます。 本作はまた、美しさが孕む悲劇的な運命を耽美に描き出します。アドニスの無垢な美は、女神の執着によって残酷な死の影を帯び、愛と破壊が表裏一体であることを示唆します。シェイクスピアは神話という器を借りて、愛の身勝手さと、永遠を渇望する者の孤独を鮮烈に表現しました。ページから溢れ出す豊穣なイメージの連鎖は、古典が持つ圧倒的な生命力を、現代の読者の心へ深く刻み込むことでしょう。