Shakespeare`s sonnets have an intensity of both feeling and meaning unmatched in English sonnet form. They divide into two parts; the first 126 sonnets are addressed to a fair youth for whom the poet has an obsessive love and the second chronicles his love for the notorious `Dark Lady`. In addition to the sonnets, this volume includes Shakespeare`s two lengthy narrative poems on classical themes, `The Rape of Lucrece` which looks forward to the dark imagery of Macbeth, and `Venus and Adonis` which mixes ribaldry and tragedy in unique Shakespearean manner. `The Phoenix and the Turtle` is a beautiful metaphysical and allegorical short elegy, and takes its place with Shakespeare`s better-known poetry.