Originally published in 1609, but likely written far earlier (theorized to be around the same time as Venus and Adonis), William Shakespeare's Sonnets 15-18 tells of a beautiful lover and the author's (Shakespeare's perspective) love and admiration.

Sonnet 15 begins the story of the author and lover by immediately admitting that nothing lasts forever, including the lover's beauty:

"When I consider everything that grows

Holds in perfection but a little moment," (15.1-2)

The Sonnet continues with the author's distraught over the lover growing old and dying, his beauty with him. In this sonnet, there is a vast amount of growth and decay imagery, connecting back to Venus and Adonis.

In Sonnet 16, the author's fourth wall conversation with the reader shows his internal struggle with never being able to do the lover the justice his beauty deserves. The author, Shakespeare, believes that he could never write something that could capture his image. It is in this sonnet that we begin seeing the pleading of the author to the lover to have a child; which he believes is the only way for the lover's beauty and legend to live on after his death - despite the fact that the child would also grow old. Ironically, the person that these sonnets are dedicated to had four children with his wife...

There is great nature imagery and reproduction analogies in this sonnet:

"bear your living flowers," (16.7)

"maiden gardens," (16.6)

"drawn by your own sweet skill" (16.14)

Sonnet 17 is complete reversal of the author's distraught and thoughts of his work, as the author now believes the lover's image will live on in his work, and that this will last longer than any child the lover may have.

"So should my papers, yellowed with their age," (17.9)

"But were some child of yours alive that time,

You should live twice--in it and in my rhyme" (17.13-14)

In addition, the author talks of trying to remember every detail of the lover before he forgets as the sonnet will hold his memory and image forever.

Finally, in Sonnet 18, perhaps the most famous of Shakespeare's sonnets with the line "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" being one of the most quoted lines from his works, the idea to make the lover have a child is long gone and there is a new arrogant tone as the author speaks of his work and how it, as well as the lover's beauty, will last forever - when the lover will not (18.1).

In addition to Adonis' comments of lust, Venus has a small speech about night. In her speech she mentions "Dian" which is a variety of the name "Diana" (the Roman goddess of the moon, chastity, and modesty). Her allusion to her sister goddess comes in her statement to Adonis:

"so do thy lips

Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn," (724-725)

She accuses Adonis of being so modest that he makes Diana look promiscuous. I guess saying "no" to Venus makes you more modest than the goddess of virginity...