s: For that he colour'd with his high estate,


s: Save sometime too much wonder of his eye,


s: Which, having all, all could not satisfy;


s: But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store,


s: That, cloy'd with much, he pineth still for more.


s: But she, that never cop'd with stranger eyes,


s: Could pick no meaning from their parling looks,


s: Writ in the glassy margents of such books;


s: She touch'd no unknown baits, nor fear'd no hooks;


s: Nor could she moralize his wanton sight,


s: More than his eyes were open'd to the light.


s: He stories to her ears her husband's fame,


s: And decks with praises Collatine's high name,


s: With bruised arms and wreaths of victory:


s: Her joy with heav'd-up hand she doth express,


s: And, wordless, so greets heaven for his success.


s: Far from the purpose of his coming hither,


s: No cloudy show of stormy blustering weather


s: Doth yet in his fair welkin once appear;


s: Till sable Night, mother of Dread and Fear,


s: Upon the world dim darkness doth display,


s: For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed,


s: With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night:


s: Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth fight;


s: And every one to rest themselves betake,


s: Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds, that wake.


s: As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving


s: The sundry dangers of his will's obtaining;


s: Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining:


s: Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining;


s: And when great treasure is the meed propos'd,


s: Though death be adjunct, there's no death suppos'd.


s: Those that much covet are with gain so fond,


s: For what they have not, that which they possess


s: They scatter and unloose it from their bond,


s: And so, by hoping more, they have but less;


s: Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain,


s: That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain.


s: With honour, wealth, and ease, in waning age;


s: And in this aim there is such thwarting strife,


s: That one for all, or all for one we gage;


s: As life for honour in fell battles' rage;


s: Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth cost


s: The death of all, and all together lost.


s: The things we are, for that which we expect;


s: The thing we have; and, all for want of wit,


s: Make something nothing, by augmenting it.


s: Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make,


s: And for himself himself he must forsake:


s: Then where is truth, if there be no self-trust?


s: When shall he think to find a stranger just,


s: When he himself himself confounds, betrays


s: To slanderous tongues and wretched hateful days?


s: Now stole upon the time the dead of night,


s: When heavy sleep had closed up mortal eyes:


s: No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding cries;


s: Now serves the season that they may surprise


s: The silly lambs; pure thoughts are dead and still,


s: While lust and murder wake to stain and kill.


s: And now this lustful lord leap'd from his bed,


s: Throwing his mantle rudely o'er his arm;


s: Is madly toss'd between desire and dread;


s: Th' one sweetly flatters, th' other feareth harm;


s: But honest Fear, bewitch'd with lust's foul charm,


s: His falchion on a flint he softly smiteth,


s: That from the cold stone sparks of fire do fly;


s: Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,


s: Which must be lode-star to his lustful eye;


s: 'As from this cold flint I enforced this fire,


s: The dangers of his loathsome enterprise,


s: What following sorrow may on this arise;


s: Then looking scornfully, he doth despise


s: His naked armour of still-slaughter'd lust,


s: And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust:


s: 'Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not


s: To darken her whose light excelleth thine:


s: And die, unhallow'd thoughts, before you blot


s: With your uncleanness that which is divine!


s: That spots and stains love's modest snow-white weed.


s: 'O shame to knighthood and to shining arms!


s: O foul dishonour to my household's grave!


s: O impious act, including all foul harms!


s: True valour still a true respect should have;


s: 'Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive,


s: Some loathsome dash the herald will contrive,


s: That my posterity, sham'd with the note,


s: Shall curse my bones, and hold it for no sin


s: To wish that I their father had not been.


s: 'What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?


s: A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy:


s: Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?


s: For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?


s: Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,


s: Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?


s: Will he not wake, and in a desperate rage


s: Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent?


s: This siege that hath engirt his marriage,


s: This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,


s: This dying virtue, this surviving shame,


s: Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame?


s: When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed?


s: Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake?


s: Mine eyes forego their light, my false heart bleed?


s: The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed;


s: And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly,


s: But, coward-like, with trembling terror die.


s: Or were he not my dear friend, this desire


s: Might have excuse to work upon his wife;


s: As in revenge or quittal of such strife:


s: But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,


s: The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.


s: 'Shameful it is;--ay, if the fact be known:


s: Hateful it is:-- there is no hate in loving;


s: I'll beg her love;--but she is not her own;


s: My will is strong, past reason's weak removing.


s: Who fears a sentence or an old man's saw


s: Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.'


s: 'Tween frozen conscience and hot-burning will,


s: And with good thoughts makes dispensation,


s: Urging the worser sense for vantage still;


s: Which in a moment doth confound and kill


s: All pure effects, and doth so far proceed,


s: That what is vile shows like a virtuous deed.


s: Quoth he, 'She took me kindly by the hand,


s: Fearing some hard news from the warlike band,


s: O how her fear did make her colour rise!


s: Then white as lawn, the roses took away.


s: 'And how her hand, in my hand being lock'd,


s: Forc'd it to tremble with her loyal fear;


s: Which struck her sad, and then it faster rock'd,


s: Until her husband's welfare she did hear;


s: Whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer,


s: That had Narcissus seen her as she stood,


s: Self-love had never drown'd him in the flood.


s: Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;


s: Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth:


s: Affection is my captain, and he leadeth;


s: The coward fights and will not be dismay'd.


s: 'Then, childish fear, avaunt! debating, die!


s: Respect and reason wait on wrinkled age!


s: My heart shall never countermand mine eye;


s: Sad pause and deep regard beseem the sage;


s: My part is youth, and beats these from the stage:


s: Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?'


s: As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear


s: Away he steals with opening, listening ear,


s: Full of foul hope, and full of fond mistrust;


s: So cross him with their opposite persuasion,


s: That now he vows a league, and now invasion.


s: Within his thought her heavenly image sits,


s: And in the self-same seat sits Collatine:


s: That eye which looks on her confounds his wits;


s: That eye which him beholds, as more divine,


s: But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart,


s: Which once corrupted takes the worser part;


s: And therein heartens up his servile powers,


s: Who, flatter'd by their leader's jocund show,


s: Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours;


s: And as their captain, so their pride doth grow.


s: Paying more slavish tribute than they owe.


s: The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed.


s: The locks between her chamber and his will,


s: Each one by him enforc'd retires his ward;


s: But, as they open they all rate his ill,


s: Which drives the creeping thief to some regard,


s: The threshold grates the door to have him heard;


s: Night-wand'ring weasels shriek to see him there;


s: They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.


s: As each unwilling portal yields him way,


s: Through little vents and crannies of the place


s: The wind wars with his torch, to make him stay,


s: And blows the smoke of it into his face,


s: But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch,


s: Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch:


s: And being lighted, by the light he spies


s: Lucretia's glove, wherein her needle sticks;


s: He takes it from the rushes where it lies,


s: And griping it, the neeld his finger pricks:


s: As who should say this glove to wanton tricks


s: Thou see'st our mistress' ornaments are chaste.


s: But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him;


s: He in the worst sense construes their denial:


s: The doors, the wind, the glove that did delay him,


s: He takes for accidental things of trial;


s: Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial,


s: Who with a lingering stay his course doth let,


s: Till every minute pays the hour his debt.


s: 'So, so,' quoth he, 'these lets attend the time,


s: Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring.


s: And give the sneaped birds more cause to sing.


s: Pain pays the income of each precious thing;


s: Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves and sands,


s: The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands.'


s: That shuts him from the heaven of his thought,


s: Which with a yielding latch, and with no more,


s: Hath barr'd him from the blessed thing he sought.


s: That for his prey to pray he doth begin,


s: As if the heavens should countenance his sin.


s: But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,


s: That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair,


s: And they would stand auspicious to the hour,


s: Even there he starts:--quoth he, 'I must de-flower;


s: The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact,


s: 'Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide!


s: Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried,


s: The blackest sin is clear'd with absolution;


s: Against love's fire fear's frost hath dissolution.


s: The eye of heaven is out, and misty night


s: Covers the shame that follows sweet delight.'


s: This said, his guilty hand pluck'd up the latch,


s: And with his knee the door he opens wide:


s: The dove sleeps fast that this night-owl will catch;


s: Thus treason works ere traitors be espied.


s: Who sees the lurking serpent steps aside;


s: But she, sound sleeping, fearing no such thing,


s: The curtains being close, about he walks,


s: Rolling his greedy eyeballs in his head:


s: By their high treason is his heart misled;


s: Which gives the watch-word to his hand full soon


s: To draw the cloud that hides the silver moon.


s: Look, as the fair and fiery-pointed sun,


s: Rushing from forth a cloud, bereaves our sight;


s: Even so, the curtain drawn, his eyes begun


s: To wink, being blinded with a greater light:


s: Whether it is that she reflects so bright,


s: That dazzleth them, or else some shame supposed;


s: But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed.


s: O, had they in that darksome prison died,


s: Then had they seen the period of their ill!


s: In his clear bed might have reposed still:


s: But they must ope, this blessed league to kill;


s: And holy-thoughted Lucrece to their sight


s: Must sell her joy, her life, her world's delight.


s: Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under,


s: Who, therefore angry, seems to part in sunder,


s: Swelling on either side to want his bliss;


s: Between whose hills her head entombed is:


s: Where, like a virtuous monument, she lies,


s: Without the bed her other fair hand was,


s: On the green coverlet; whose perfect white


s: Show'd like an April daisy on the grass,


s: With pearly sweat, resembling dew of night,


s: Her eyes, like marigolds, had sheath'd their light,


s: Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath;


s: Showing life's triumph in the map of death,


s: And death's dim look in life's mortality:


s: Each in her sleep themselves so beautify,


s: As if between them twain there were no strife,


s: But that life liv'd in death, and death in life.


s: Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue,


s: Save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew,


s: These worlds in Tarquin new ambition bred:


s: From this fair throne to heave the owner out.


s: What could he see but mightily he noted?


s: What did he note but strongly he desir'd?


s: What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,


s: And in his will his wilful eye he tir'd.


s: Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.


s: So o'er this sleeping soul doth Tarquin stay,


s: Slack'd, not suppress'd; for standing by her side,


s: His eye, which late this mutiny restrains,


s: And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,


s: Obdurate vassals. fell exploits effecting,


s: In bloody death and ravishment delighting,


s: Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,


s: Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:


s: Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,


s: Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking.


s: His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,


s: His eye commends the leading to his hand;


s: Smoking with pride, march'd on to make his stand


s: On her bare breast, the heart of all her land;


s: Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,


s: Left their round turrets destitute and pale.


s: Where their dear governess and lady lies,


s: And fright her with confusion of their cries:


s: She, much amaz'd, breaks ope her lock'd-up eyes,


s: Who, peeping forth this tumult to behold,


s: Are by his flaming torch dimm'd and controll'd.


s: From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking,


s: That thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite,


s: Whose grim aspect sets every joint a shaking:


s: What terror 'tis! but she, in worser taking,


s: From sleep disturbed, heedfully doth view


s: The sight which makes supposed terror true.


s: Wrapp'd and confounded in a thousand fears,


s: Like to a new-kill'd bird she trembling lies;


s: She dares not look; yet, winking, there appears


s: Quick-shifting antics, ugly in her eyes:


s: Such shadows are the weak brain's forgeries:


s: Who, angry that the eyes fly from their lights,


s: In darkness daunts them with more dreadful sights.


s: His hand, that yet remains upon her breast,


s: (Rude ram, to batter such an ivory wall!)


s: May feel her heart, poor citizen, distress'd,


s: Wounding itself to death, rise up and fall,


s: Beating her bulk, that his hand shakes withal.


s: This moves in him more rage, and lesser pity,


s: To make the breach, and enter this sweet city.


s: First, like a trumpet, doth his tongue begin


s: Who o'er the white sheet peers her whiter chin,


s: But she with vehement prayers urgeth still


s: Thus he replies: 'The colour in thy face,


s: (That even for anger makes the lily pale,


s: And the red rose blush at her own disgrace)


s: Shall plead for me and tell my loving tale:


s: Thy never-conquer'd fort: the fault is thine,


s: For those thine eyes betray thee unto mine.


s: 'Thus I forestall thee, if thou mean to chide:


s: Thy beauty hath ensnared thee to this night,


s: Where thou with patience must my will abide,


s: My will that marks thee for my earth's delight,


s: Which I to conquer sought with all my might;


s: 'I see what crosses my attempt will bring;


s: I know what thorns the growing rose defends;


s: All this, beforehand, counsel comprehends:


s: But will is deaf, and hears no heedful friends;


s: And dotes on what he looks, 'gainst law or duty.


s: What wrong, what shame, what sorrow I shall breed;


s: But nothing can Affection's course control,


s: This said, he shakes aloft his Roman blade,


s: Which, like a falcon towering in the skies,


s: Coucheth the fowl below with his wings' shade,


s: Whose crooked beak threats if he mount he dies:


s: Harmless Lucretia, marking what he tells


s: With trembling fear, as fowl hear falcon's bells.


s: 'Lucrece,' quoth he, 'this night I must enjoy thee:


s: If thou deny, then force must work my way,


s: For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee;


s: That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay.


s: To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;


s: And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,


s: Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him.


s: Thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain,


s: Shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes,


s: And sung by children in succeeding times.


s: 'But if thou yield, I rest thy secret friend:


s: The fault unknown is as a thought unacted;


s: A little harm, done to a great good end,


s: The poisonous simple sometimes is compacted


s: 'Then, for thy husband and thy children's sake,


s: Tender my suit: bequeath not to their lot


s: The shame that from them no device can take,


s: Worse than a slavish wipe, or birth-hour's blot:


s: Are nature's faults, not their own infamy.'


s: Here with a cockatrice' dead-killing eye


s: He rouseth up himself and makes a pause;


s: Like a white hind under the grype's sharp claws,


s: Pleads in a wilderness where are no laws,


s: To the rough beast that knows no gentle right,


s: But when a black-fac'd cloud the world doth threat,


s: In his dim mist the aspiring mountains hiding,


s: From earth's dark womb some gentle gust doth get,


s: Which blows these pitchy vapours from their biding,


s: Hindering their present fall by this dividing;


s: So his unhallow'd haste her words delays,


s: And moody Pluto winks while Orpheus plays.


s: Yet, foul night-working cat, he doth but dally,


s: While in his hold-fast foot the weak mouse panteth;


s: Her sad behaviour feeds his vulture folly,


s: A swallowing gulf that even in plenty wanteth:


s: His ear her prayers admits, but his heart granteth


s: Tears harden lust, though marble wear with raining.


s: In the remorseless wrinkles of his face;


s: Her modest eloquence with sighs is mix'd,


s: She puts the period often from his place,


s: And midst the sentence so her accent breaks,


s: That twice she doth begin ere once she speaks.


s: By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath,


s: By her untimely tears, her husband's love,


s: By heaven and earth, and all the power of both,


s: That to his borrow'd bed he make retire,


s: And stoop to honour, not to foul desire.


s: With such black payment as thou hast pretended;


s: Mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee;


s: Mar not the thing that cannot be amended;


s: End thy ill aim before the shoot be ended:


s: 'My husband is thy friend; for his sake spare me;


s: Thyself art mighty; for thine own sake leave me;


s: Myself a weakling, do not then ensnare me;


s: Thou look'st not like deceit; do not deceive me;


s: My sighs, like whirlwinds, labour hence to heave thee.


s: If ever man were mov'd with woman's moans,


s: Be moved with my tears, my sighs, my groans:


s: 'All which together, like a troubled ocean,


s: Beat at thy rocky and wreck-threatening heart;


s: To soften it with their continual motion;


s: For stones dissolv'd to water do convert.


s: 'In Tarquin's likeness I did entertain thee;


s: Hast thou put on his shape to do him shame?


s: To all the host of heaven I complain me,


s: Thou wrong'st his honour, wound'st his princely name.


s: Thou art not what thou seem'st; and if the same,


s: Thou seem'st not what thou art, a god, a king;


s: For kings like gods should govern every thing.


s: 'How will thy shame be seeded in thine age,


s: When thus thy vices bud before thy spring!


s: If in thy hope thou dar'st do such outrage,


s: What dar'st thou not when once thou art a king!


s: Then kings' misdeeds cannot be hid in clay.


s: 'This deed will make thee only lov'd for fear,


s: But happy monarchs still are fear'd for love:


s: With foul offenders thou perforce must bear,


s: When they in thee the like offences prove:


s: If but for fear of this, thy will remove;


s: For princes are the glass, the school, the book,


s: Where subjects eyes do learn, do read, do look.


s: 'And wilt thou be the school where Lust shall learn?


s: Must he in thee read lectures of such shame:


s: Wilt thou be glass, wherein it shall discern


s: Thou back'st reproach against long-living laud,


s: 'Hast thou command? by him that gave it thee,


s: From a pure heart command thy rebel will:


s: For it was lent thee all that brood to kill.


s: Thy princely office how canst thou fulfill,


s: When, pattern'd by thy fault, foul Sin may say


s: He learn'd to sin, and thou didst teach the way?


s: To view thy present trespass in another.


s: Men's faults do seldom to themselves appear;


s: Their own transgressions partially they smother:


s: This guilt would seem death-worthy in thy brother.


s: That from their own misdeeds askaunce their eyes!


s: 'To thee, to thee, my heav'd-up hands appeal,


s: Let him return, and flattering thoughts retire:


s: His true respect will 'prison false desire,


s: And wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne,


s: That thou shalt see thy state, and pity mine.'


s: 'Have done,' quoth he: 'my uncontrolled tide


s: Turns not, but swells the higher by this let.


s: Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide,


s: To their salt sovereign, with their fresh falls' haste,


s: Add to his flow, but alter not his taste.'


s: 'Thou art,' quoth she, 'a sea, a sovereign king;


s: And, lo, there falls into thy boundless flood


s: Black lust, dishonour, shame, misgoverning,


s: Who seek to stain the ocean of thy blood.


s: If all these petty ills shall change thy good,


s: Thy sea within a puddle's womb is hears'd,


s: And not the puddle in thy sea dispers'd.


s: 'So shall these slaves be king, and thou their slave;


s: Thou their fair life, and they thy fouler grave;


s: Thou loathed in their shame, they in thy pride:


s: The lesser thing should not the greater hide;


s: The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot,


s: But low shrubs whither at the cedar's root.


s: 'So let thy thoughts, low vassals to thy state'--


s: 'No more,' quoth he; 'by heaven, I will not hear thee:


s: Yield to my love; if not, enforced hate,


s: Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee;


s: That done, despitefully I mean to bear thee


s: To be thy partner in this shameful doom.'


s: This said, he sets his foot upon the light,


s: Shame folded up in blind concealing night,


s: When most unseen, then most doth tyrannize.


s: The wolf hath seiz'd his prey, the poor lamb cries;


s: Till with her own white fleece her voice controll'd


s: Entombs her outcry in her lips' sweet fold:


s: For with the nightly linen that she wears


s: He pens her piteous clamours in her head;


s: Cooling his hot face in the chastest tears


s: O, that prone lust should stain so pure a bed!


s: Her tears should drop on them perpetually.


s: But she hath lost a dearer thing than life,


s: And he hath won what he would lose again.


s: This forced league doth force a further strife;


s: This momentary joy breeds months of pain,


s: This hot desire converts to cold disdain:


s: And Lust, the thief, far poorer than before.


s: Look, as the full-fed hound or gorged hawk,


s: Unapt for tender smell or speedy flight,


s: The prey wherein by nature they delight;


s: So surfeit-taking Tarquin fares this night:


s: His taste delicious, in digestion souring,


s: Devours his will, that liv'd by foul devouring.


s: While lust is in his pride no exclamation


s: Can curb his heat, or rein his rash desire,


s: Till, like a jade, self-will himself doth tire.


s: And then with lank and lean discolour'd cheek,


s: With heavy eye, knit brow, and strengthless pace,


s: Feeble desire, all recreant, poor, and meek,


s: Like to a bankrupt beggar wails his case:


s: The flesh being proud, desire doth fight with Grace,


s: For there it revels; and when that decays,


s: So fares it with this faultful lord of Rome,


s: Who this accomplishment so hotly chas'd;


s: For now against himself he sounds this doom,


s: That through the length of times he stands disgrac'd:


s: Besides, his soul's fair temple is defac'd;


s: To whose weak ruins muster troops of cares,


s: To ask the spotted princess how she fares.


s: She says, her subjects with foul insurrection


s: Have batter'd down her consecrated wall,


s: And by their mortal fault brought in subjection


s: Which in her prescience she controlled still,


s: But her foresight could not forestall their will.


s: Even in this thought through the dark night he stealeth,


s: A captive victor that hath lost in gain;


s: Bearing away the wound that nothing healeth,


s: The scar that will, despite of cure, remain;


s: Leaving his spoil perplex'd in greater pain.


s: She hears the load of lust he left behind,


s: He like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence;


s: She like a wearied lamb lies panting there;


s: He scowls, and hates himself for his offence;


s: She, desperate, with her nails her flesh doth tear;


s: He faintly flies, sweating with guilty fear;


s: She stays, exclaiming on the direful night;


s: He runs, and chides his vanish'd, loath'd delight.


s: He in his speed looks for the morning light;


s: 'For day,' quoth she, 'night's scapes doth open lay;


s: And my true eyes have never practis'd how


s: 'They think not but that every eye can see


s: The same disgrace which they themselves behold;


s: And therefore would they still in darkness be,


s: For they their guilt with weeping will unfold,


s: And grave, like water that doth eat in steel,


s: Upon my cheeks what helpless shame I feel.'


s: Here she exclaims against repose and rest,


s: And bids her eyes hereafter still be blind.


s: She wakes her heart by beating on her breast,


s: And bids it leap from thence, where it may find


s: Some purer chest, to close so pure a mind.


s: Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite


s: 'O comfort-killing night, image of hell!


s: Black stage for tragedies and murders fell!


s: Vast sin-concealing chaos! nurse of blame!


s: Blind muffled bawd! dark harbour for defame!


s: Grim cave of death, whispering conspirator


s: With close-tongued treason and the ravisher!


s: Since thou art guilty of my cureless crime,


s: Muster thy mists to meet the eastern light,


s: Make war against proportion'd course of time!


s: His wonted height, yet ere he go to bed,


s: Knit poisonous clouds about his golden head.


s: 'With rotten damps ravish the morning air;


s: Let their exhal'd unwholesome breaths make sick


s: And let thy misty vapours march so thick,


s: That in their smoky ranks his smother'd light


s: May set at noon and make perpetual night.


s: 'Were Tarquin night (as he is but night's child),


s: The silver-shining queen he would distain;


s: Her twinkling handmaids too, by him defil'd,


s: Through  Night's  black  bosom  should not peep again:


s: So should I have co-partners in my pain:


s: As palmers' chat makes short their pilgrimage.


s: 'Where now I have no one to blush with me,


s: To cross their arms and hang their heads with mine,


s: To mask their brows, and hide their infamy;


s: Seasoning the earth with showers of silver brine,


s: Mingling my talk with tears, my grief with groans,


s: Poor wasting monuments of lasting moans.


s: 'O night, thou furnace of foul-reeking smoke,


s: Let not the jealous day behold that face


s: Which underneath thy black all-hiding cloak


s: Keep still possession of thy gloomy place,


s: That all the faults which in thy reign are made,


s: May likewise be sepulchred in thy shade!


s: 'Make me not object to the tell-tale day!


s: The light will show, character'd in my brow,


s: To cipher what is writ in learned books,


s: Will quote my loathsome trespass in my looks.


s: 'The nurse, to still her child, will tell my story


s: And fright her crying babe with Tarquin's name;


s: Will couple my reproach to Tarquin's shame:


s: Feast-finding minstrels, tuning my defame,


s: Will tie the hearers to attend each line,


s: 'Let my good name, that senseless reputation,


s: For Collatine's dear love be kept unspotted:


s: If that be made a theme for disputation,


s: The branches of another root are rotted,


s: And undeserved reproach to him allotted,


s: That is as clear from this attaint of mine


s: O unfelt sore! crest-wounding, private scar!


s: Reproach is stamp'd in Collatinus' face,


s: And Tarquin's eye may read the mot afar,


s: Alas, how many bear such shameful blows,


s: Which not themselves, but he that gives them knows!


s: But robb'd and ransack'd by injurious theft:


s: In thy weak hive a wandering wasp hath crept,


s: And suck'd the honey which thy chaste bee kept.


s: 'Yet am I guilty of thy honour's wrack;--


s: Coming from thee, I could not put him back,


s: For it had been dishonour to disdain him:


s: Besides, of weariness he did complain him,


s: And talk'd of virtue:--O unlook'd-for evil,


s: When virtue is profan'd in such a devil!


s: 'Why should the worm intrude the maiden bud?


s: Or hateful cuckoos hatch in sparrows' nests?


s: Or toads infect fair founts with venom mud?


s: Or kings be breakers of their own behests?


s: Is plagued with cramps, and gouts, and painful fits;


s: And scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold,


s: And useless barns the harvest of his wits;


s: But torment that it cannot cure his pain.


s: 'So then he hath it when he cannot use it,


s: And leaves it to be master'd by his young;


s: Who in their pride do presently abuse it:


s: Their father was too weak, and they too strong,


s: To hold their cursed-blessed fortune long.


s: The sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours,


s: Even in the moment that we call them ours.


s: 'Unruly blasts wait on the tender spring;


s: Unwholesome weeds take root with precious flowers;


s: The adder hisses where the sweet birds sing;


s: We have no good that we can say is ours,


s: 'Tis thou that executest the traitor's treason;


s: Thou set'st the wolf where he the lamb may get;


s: Whoever plots the sin, thou 'point'st the season;


s: 'Tis thou that spurn'st at right, at law, at reason;


s: And in thy shady cell, where none may spy him,


s: Sits Sin, to seize the souls that wander by him.


s: 'Thou mak'st the vestal violate her oath;


s: Thou blow'st the fire when temperance is thaw'd;


s: Thou smother'st honesty, thou murther'st troth;


s: Thou plantest scandal and displacest laud:


s: Thou ravisher, thou traitor, thou false thief,


s: Thy honey turns to gall, thy joy to grief!


s: 'Thy secret pleasure turns to open shame,


s: Thy sugar'd tongue to bitter wormwood taste:


s: Being so bad, such numbers seek for thee?


s: 'When wilt thou be the humble suppliant's friend,


s: And bring him where his suit may be obtain'd?


s: When wilt thou sort an hour great strifes to end?


s: Or free that soul which wretchedness hath chain'd?


s: Give physic to the sick, ease to the pain'd?


s: The poor, lame, blind, halt, creep, cry out for thee;


s: 'The patient dies while the physician sleeps;


s: The orphan pines while the oppressor feeds;


s: Justice is feasting while the widow weeps;


s: Advice is sporting while infection breeds;


s: Thou grant'st no time for charitable deeds:


s: Wrath, envy, treason, rape, and murder's rages,


s: Thy heinous hours wait on them as their pages.


s: 'When truth and virtue have to do with thee,


s: A thousand crosses keep them from thy aid;


s: They buy thy help; but Sin ne'er gives a fee,


s: He gratis comes; and thou art well appay'd


s: As well to hear as grant what he hath said.


s: When Tarquin did, but he was stay'd by thee.


s: 'Guilty thou art of murder and of theft;


s: To all sins past, and all that are to come,


s: 'Mis-shapen Time, copesmate of ugly night,


s: Swift subtle post, carrier of grisly care,


s: Eater of youth, false slave to false delight,


s: Base watch of woes, sin's pack-horse, virtue's snare;


s: Thou nursest all and murtherest all that are:


s: O hear me then, injurious, shifting Time!


s: Be guilty of my death, since of my crime.


s: Betray'd the hours thou gav'st me to repose?


s: Time's office is to fine the hate of foes;


s: 'Time's glory is to calm contending kings,


s: To unmask falsehood, and bring truth to light,


s: To stamp the seal of time in aged things,


s: To wake the morn, and sentinel the night,


s: To wrong the wronger till he render right;


s: To ruinate proud buildings with thy hours,


s: And smear with dust their glittering golden towers:


s: 'To fill with worm-holes stately monuments,


s: To blot old books and alter their contents,


s: To pluck the quills from ancient ravens' wings,


s: To dry the old oak's sap and cherish springs;


s: And turn the giddy round of Fortune's wheel;


s: 'To show the beldame daughters of her daughter,


s: To make the child a man, the man a child,


s: To slay the tiger that doth live by slaughter,


s: To mock the subtle, in themselves beguil'd;


s: To cheer the ploughman with increaseful crops,


s: And waste huge stones with little water-drops.


s: 'Why work'st thou mischief in thy pilgrimage,


s: Unless thou couldst return to make amends?


s: Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends,


s: Lending him wit that to bad debtors lends:


s: O, this dread night, wouldst thou one hour come back,


s: I could prevent this storm, and shun thy wrack!


s: With some mischance cross Tarquin in his flight:


s: To make him curse this cursed crimeful night:


s: Let ghastly shadows his lewd eyes affright;


s: And the dire thought of his committed evil


s: Shape every bush a hideous shapeless devil.


s: 'Disturb his hours of rest with restless trances,


s: Afflict him in his bed with bedrid groans;


s: Let there bechance him pitiful mischances,


s: To make him moan; but pity not his moans:


s: Stone him with harden'd hearts, harder than stones;


s: And let mild women to him lose their mildness,


s: Wilder to him than tigers in their wildness.


s: 'Let him have time to tear his curled hair,


s: Let him have time against himself to rave,


s: Let him have time of Time's help to despair,


s: Let him have time to live a loathed slave,


s: Let him have time a beggar's orts to crave;


s: And time to see one that by alms doth live


s: Disdain to him disdained scraps to give.


s: 'Let him have time to see his friends his foes,


s: Let him have time to mark how slow time goes


s: In time of sorrow, and how swift and short


s: His time of folly and his time of sport:


s: Have time to wail the abusing of his time.


s: 'O Time, thou tutor both to good and bad,


s: Teach me to curse him that thou taught'st this ill!


s: At his own shadow let the thief run mad!


s: Himself himself seek every hour to kill!


s: Such wretched hands such wretched blood should spill:


s: For who so base would such an office have


s: As slanderous deathsman to so base a slave?


s: To shame his hope with deeds degenerate.


s: The mightier man, the mightier is the thing


s: That makes him honour'd, or begets him hate;


s: For greatest scandal waits on greatest state.


s: The moon being clouded presently is miss'd,


s: But little stars may hide them when they list.


s: 'The crow may bathe his coal-black wings in mire,


s: And unperceived fly with the filth away;


s: But if the like the snow-white swan desire,


s: The stain upon his silver down will stay.


s: Poor grooms are sightless night, kings glorious day:


s: 'Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools!


s: Busy yourselves in skill-contending schools;


s: Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters;


s: Since that my case is past the help of law.


s: At Time, at Tarquin, and uncheerful night;


s: In vain I spurn at my confirm'd despite:


s: This helpless smoke of words doth me no right.


s: 'Poor hand, why quiver'st thou at this decree?


s: But if I live, thou livest in my defame:


s: Since thou couldst not defend thy loyal dame,


s: And wast afear'd to scratch her wicked foe,


s: Kill both thyself and her for yielding so.'


s: This said, from her be-tumbled couch she starteth,


s: To find some desperate instrument of death:


s: But this no slaughter-house no tool imparteth,


s: To make more vent for passage of her breath;


s: Which, thronging through her lips, so vanisheth


s: As smoke from Aetna, that in air consumes,


s: Or that which from discharged cannon fumes.


s: 'In vain,' quoth she, 'I live, and seek in vain


s: I fear'd by Tarquin's falchion to be slain,


s: Yet for the self-same purpose seek a knife:


s: Of that true type hath Tarquin rifled me.


s: 'O! that is gone for which I sought to live,


s: And therefore now I need not fear to die.


s: To clear this spot by death, at least I give


s: Poor helpless help, the treasure stolen away,


s: To burn the guiltless casket where it lay!


s: 'Well, well, dear Collatine, thou shalt not know


s: He shall not boast who did thy stock pollute


s: That thou art doting father of his fruit.


s: Nor shall he smile at thee in secret thought,


s: Nor laugh with his companions at thy state;


s: But thou shalt know thy interest was not bought


s: Basely with gold, but stolen from forth thy gate.


s: And with my trespass never will dispense,


s: Till life to death acquit my forced offence.


s: 'I will not poison thee with my attaint,


s: Nor fold my fault in cleanly-coin'd excuses;


s: My sable ground of sin I will not paint,


s: To hide the truth of this false night's abuses;


s: My tongue shall utter all; mine eyes, like sluices,


s: As from a mountain-spring that feeds a dale,


s: Shall gush pure streams to purge my impure tale.'


s: The well-tun'd warble of her nightly sorrow,


s: And solemn night with slow-sad gait descended


s: To ugly hell; when, lo, the blushing morrow


s: Lends light to all fair eyes that light will borrow:


s: But cloudy Lucrece shames herself to see,


s: And therefore still in night would cloister'd be.


s: Revealing day through every cranny spies,


s: And seems to point her out where she sits weeping,


s: To whom she sobbing speaks: 'O eye of eyes,


s: Why pryest thou through my window? leave thy peeping;


s: Mock with thy tickling beams eyes that are sleeping:


s: Brand not my forehead with thy piercing light,


s: For day hath nought to do what's done by night.'


s: Thus cavils she with every thing she sees:


s: True grief is fond and testy as a child,


s: Who wayward once, his mood with nought agrees.


s: Old woes, not infant sorrows, bear them mild;


s: Continuance tames the one: the other wild,


s: Like an unpractis'd swimmer plunging still


s: With too much labour drowns for want of skill.


s: Holds disputation with each thing she views,


s: No object but her passion's strength renews;


s: And as one shifts, another straight ensues:


s: Sometime 'tis mad, and too much talk affords.


s: The little birds that tune their morning's joy


s: Make her moans mad with their sweet melody.


s: For mirth doth search the bottom of annoy;


s: Grief best is pleas'd with grief's society:


s: When with like semblance it is sympathiz'd.


s: 'Tis double death to drown in ken of shore;


s: He ten times pines that pines beholding food;


s: To see the salve doth make the wound ache more;


s: Great grief grieves most at that would do it good;


s: Deep woes roll forward like a gentle flood;


s: Who, being stopp'd, the bounding banks o'erflows;


s: Grief dallied with nor law nor limit knows.


s: 'You mocking birds,' quoth she, 'your tunes entomb


s: Within your hollow-swelling feather'd breasts,


s: (My restless discord loves no stops nor rests;


s: A woeful hostess brooks not merry guests:)


s: Relish your nimble notes to pleasing ears;


s: Distress likes dumps when time is kept with tears.


s: 'Come, Philomel, that sing'st of ravishment,


s: Make thy sad grove in my dishevell'd hair:


s: As the dank earth weeps at thy languishment,


s: So I at each sad strain will strain a tear,


s: For burthen-wise I'll hum on Tarquin still,


s: While thou on Tereus descant'st better skill.


s: 'And whiles against a thorn thou bear'st thy part,


s: To keep thy sharp woes waking, wretched I,


s: Will fix a sharp knife, to affright mine eye;


s: Who, if it wink, shall thereon fall and die.


s: These means, as frets upon an instrument,


s: Shall tune our heart-strings to true languishment.


s: 'And for, poor bird, thou sing'st not in the day,


s: Some dark deep desert, seated from the way,


s: That knows not parching heat nor freezing cold,


s: Will we find out; and there we will unfold


s: To creatures stern sad tunes, to change their kinds:


s: Since men prove beasts, let beasts bear gentle minds.'


s: As the poor frighted deer, that stands at gaze,


s: To live or die which of the twain were better,


s: When life is sham'd, and Death reproach's debtor.


s: 'To kill myself,' quoth she, 'alack! what were it,


s: But with my body my poor soul's pollution?


s: They that lose half with greater patience bear it


s: Than they whose whole is swallow'd in confusion.


s: That mother tries a merciless conclusion


s: Who, having two sweet babes, when death takes one,


s: Will slay the other, and be nurse to none.


s: 'My body or my soul, which was the dearer,


s: When the one pure, the other made divine?


s: Whose love of either to myself was nearer?


s: When both were kept for heaven and Collatine?


s: Ah, me! the bark peel'd from the lofty pine,


s: His leaves will wither, and his sap decay;


s: So must my soul, her bark being peel'd away.


s: 'Her house is sack'd, her quiet interrupted,


s: Her sacred temple spotted, spoil'd, corrupted,


s: If in this blemish'd fort I make some hole


s: Through which I may convey this troubled soul.


s: Have heard the cause of my untimely death;


s: That he may vow, in that sad hour of mine,


s: Revenge on him that made me stop my breath.


s: My stained blood to Tarquin I'll bequeath,


s: Which by him tainted shall for him be spent,


s: 'Tis honour to deprive dishonour'd life;


s: The one will live, the other being dead:


s: So of shame's ashes shall my fame be bred;


s: For in my death I murther shameful scorn:


s: My shame so dead, mine honour is new-born.


s: My resolution, Love, shall be thy boast,


s: By whose example thou reveng'd mayst be.


s: How Tarquin must be used, read it in me:


s: Myself, thy friend, will kill myself, thy foe,


s: And, for my sake, serve thou false Tarquin so.


s: 'This brief abridgement of my will I make:


s: My soul and body to the skies and ground;


s: Mine honour be the knife's that makes my wound;


s: My shame be his that did my fame confound;


s: To those that live, and think no shame of me.


s: 'Thou, Collatine, shalt oversee this will;


s: How was I overseen that thou shalt see it!


s: My blood shall wash the slander of mine ill;


s: My life's foul deed my life's fair end shall free it.


s: Faint not, faint heart, but stoutly say "so be it:"


s: Yield to my hand; my hand shall conquer thee;


s: Thou dead, both die, and both shall victors be.'


s: This plot of death when sadly she had laid,


s: And wip'd the brinish pearl from her bright eyes,


s: With untun'd tongue she hoarsely call'd her maid,


s: Whose swift obedience to her mistress hies;


s: For fleet-wing'd duty with thought's feathers flies.


s: Poor Lucrece' cheeks unto her maid seem so


s: As winter meads when sun doth melt their snow.


s: Her mistress she doth give demure good-morrow,


s: With soft-slow tongue, true mark of modesty,


s: And sorts a sad look to her lady's sorrow,


s: (For why her face wore sorrow's livery,)


s: Why her two suns were cloud-eclipsed so,


s: Nor why her fair cheeks over-wash'd with woe.


s: But as the earth doth weep, the sun being set,


s: Each flower moisten'd like a melting eye;


s: Even so the maid with swelling drops 'gan wet


s: Of those fair suns, set in her mistress' sky,


s: Who in a salt-wav'd ocean quench their light,


s: Which makes the maid weep like the dewy night.


s: A pretty while these pretty creatures stand,


s: Like ivory conduits coral cisterns filling:


s: One justly weeps; the other takes in hand


s: No cause, but company, of her drops spilling:


s: Their gentle sex to weep are often willing:


s: Grieving themselves to guess at others' smarts,


s: And then they drown their eyes or break their hearts.


s: And therefore are they form'd as marble will;


s: The weak oppress'd, the impression of strange kinds


s: Is form'd in them by force, by fraud, or skill:


s: Then call them not the authors of their ill,


s: No more than wax shall be accounted evil,


s: Wherein is stamp'd the semblance of a devil.


s: Their smoothness, like a goodly champaign plain,


s: Lays open all the little worms that creep;


s: In men, as in a rough-grown grove, remain


s: Cave-keeping evils that obscurely sleep:


s: Through crystal walls each little mote will peep:


s: Though men can cover crimes with bold stern looks,


s: Poor women's faces are their own faults' books.


s: No man inveigb against the wither'd flower,


s: But chide rough winter that the flower hath kill'd!


s: Not that devour'd, but that which doth devour,


s: Poor women's faults, that they are so fulfill'd


s: With men's abuses! those proud lords, to blame,


s: Make weak-made women tenants to their shame.


s: Assail'd by night with circumstances strong


s: Of present death, and shame that might ensue


s: By that her death, to do her husband wrong:


s: The dying fear through all her body spread;


s: By this, mild Patience bid fair Lucrece speak


s: To the poor counterfeit of her complaining:


s: 'My girl,' quoth she, 'on what occasion break


s: Those tears from thee, that down thy cheeks are raining?


s: If thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining,


s: Know, gentle wench, it small avails my mood:


s: If tears could help, mine own would do me good.


s: 'But tell me, girl, when went'--(and there she stay'd


s: Till after a deep groan) 'Tarquin from, hence?'


s: 'Madam, ere I was up,' replied the maid,


s: 'The more to blame my sluggard negligence:


s: Yet with the fault I thus far can dispense;


s: Myself was stirring ere the break of day,


s: 'But, lady, if your maid may be so bold,


s: She would request to know your heaviness.'


s: 'O peace!' quoth Lucrece: 'if it should be told,


s: And that deep torture may be call'd a hell,


s: When more is felt than one hath power to tell.


s: 'Go, get me hither paper, ink, and pen--


s: Yet save that labour, for I have them here.


s: What should I say?--One of my husband's men


s: The cause craves haste, and it will soon be writ.'


s: Her maid is gone, and she prepares to write,


s: First hovering o'er the paper with her quill:


s: Conceit and grief an eager combat fight;


s: What wit sets down is blotted straight with will;


s: This is too curious-good, this blunt and ill:


s: Throng her inventions, which shall go before.


s: At last she thus begins:--'Thou worthy lord


s: Of that unworthy wife that greeteth thee,


s: Health to thy person! next vouchsafe to afford


s: (If ever, love, thy Lucrece thou wilt see)


s: Some present speed to come and visit me:


s: So, I commend me from our house in grief:


s: My woes are tedious, though my words are brief.'


s: By this short schedule Collatine may know


s: Her grief, but not her grief's true quality;


s: Lest he should hold it her own gross abuse,


s: Ere she with blood had stain'd her stain'd excuse.


s: Besides, the life and feeling of her passion


s: She hoards, to spend when he is by to hear her;


s: When sighs, and groans, and tears may grace the fashion


s: Of her disgrace, the better so to clear her


s: From that suspicion which the world my might bear her.


s: To shun this blot, she would not blot the letter


s: With words, till action might become them better.


s: To see sad sights moves more than hear them told;


s: When every part a part of woe doth bear.


s: Deep sounds make lesser noise than shallow fords,


s: And sorrow ebbs, being blown with wind of words.


s: Her letter now is seal'd, and on it writ


s: 'At Ardea to my lord with more than haste;'


s: Charging the sour-fac'd groom to hie as fast


s: As lagging fowls before the northern blast.


s: Speed more than speed but dull and slow she deems:


s: The homely villain court'sies to her low;


s: And, blushing on her, with a steadfast eye


s: Receives the scroll, without or yea or no,


s: And forth with bashful innocence doth hie.


s: But they whose guilt within their bosoms lie


s: For Lucrece thought he blush'd to see her shame:


s: When, silly groom! God wot, it was defect


s: Such harmless creatures have a true respect


s: Promise more speed, but do it leisurely:


s: Even so this pattern of the worn-out age


s: Pawn'd honest looks, but laid no words to gage.


s: That two red fires in both their faces blaz'd;


s: She thought he blush'd, as knowing Tarquin's lust,


s: And, blushing with him, wistly on him gaz'd;


s: Her earnest eye did make him more amaz'd:


s: The more saw the blood his cheeks replenish,


s: The more she thought he spied in her some blemish.


s: But long she thinks till he return again,


s: And yet the duteous vassal scarce is gone.


s: For now 'tis stale to sigh, to weep, to groan:


s: So woe hath wearied woe, moan tired moan,


s: That she her plaints a little while doth stay,


s: Pausing for means to mourn some newer way.


s: At last she calls to mind where hangs a piece


s: Of skilful painting, made for Priam's Troy;


s: Before the which is drawn the power of Greece,


s: Threat'ning cloud-kissing Ilion with annoy;


s: Which the conceited painter drew so proud,


s: As heaven (it seem'd) to kiss the turrets bow'd.


s: In scorn of Nature, Art gave lifeless life:


s: Shed for the slaughter'd husband by the wife:


s: The red blood reek'd, to show the painter's strife;


s: The dying eyes gleam'd forth their ashy lights,


s: Like dying coals burnt out in tedious nights.


s: There might you see the labouring pioner


s: Begrim'd with sweat, and smeared all with dust;


s: And from the towers of Troy there would appear


s: The very eyes of men through loopholes thrust,


s: Gazing upon the Greeks with little lust:


s: Such sweet observance in this work was had,


s: That one might see those far-off eyes look sad.


s: You might behold, triumphing in their faces;


s: And here and there the painter interlaces


s: Pale cowards, marching on with trembling paces;


s: Which heartless peasants did so well resemble,


s: That one would swear he saw them quake and tremble.


s: The face of either 'cipher'd either's heart;


s: Their face their manners most expressly told:


s: In Ajax' eyes blunt rage and rigour roll'd;


s: But the mild glance that sly Ulysses lent


s: Show'd deep regard and smiling government.


s: There pleading might you see grave Nestor stand,


s: As't were encouraging the Greeks to fight;


s: That it beguiled attention, charm'd the sight:


s: In speech, it seem'd, his beard, all silver white,


s: Wagg'd up and down, and from his lips did fly


s: Thin winding breath, which purl'd up to the sky.


s: Which seem'd to swallow up his sound advice;


s: All jointly listening, but with several graces,


s: As if some mermaid did their ears entice;


s: Some high, some low, the painter was so nice:


s: To jump up higher seem'd to mock the mind.


s: Here one man's hand lean'd on another's head,


s: His nose being shadow'd by his neighbour's ear;


s: Here one being throng'd bears back, all boll'n and red;


s: Another smother'd seems to pelt and swear;


s: And in their rage such signs of rage they bear,


s: As, but for loss of Nestor's golden words,


s: It seem'd they would debate with angry swords.


s: That for Achilles' image stood his spear,


s: Grip'd in an armed hand; himself, behind,


s: Was left unseen, save to the eye of mind:


s: And from the walls of strong-besieged Troy


s: When their brave hope, bold Hector, march'd to field,


s: To see their youthful sons bright weapons wield;


s: And to their hope they such odd action yield,


s: That through their light joy seemed to appear,


s: (Like bright things stain'd) a kind of heavy fear,


s: And, from the strond of Dardan, where they fought,


s: To Simois' reedy banks, the red blood ran,


s: Whose waves to imitate the battle sought


s: With swelling ridges; and their ranks began


s: To break upon the galled shore, and than


s: Retire again, till, meeting greater ranks,


s: They join, and shoot their foam at Simois' banks.


s: To this well-painted piece is Lucrece come,


s: To find a face where all distress is stell'd.


s: Many she sees where cares have carved some,


s: But none where all distress and dolour dwell'd,


s: Staring on Priam's wounds with her old eyes,


s: Which bleeding under Pyrrhus' proud foot lies.


s: Time's ruin, beauty's wrack, and grim care's reign:


s: Her cheeks with chops and wrinkles were disguis'd;


s: Of what she was no semblance did remain:


s: Her blue blood, chang'd to black in every vein,


s: Wanting the spring that those shrunk pipes had fed,


s: On this sad shadow Lucrece spends her eyes,


s: And shapes her sorrow to the beldame's woes,


s: Who nothing wants to answer her but cries,


s: The painter was no god to lend her those;


s: And therefore Lucrece swears he did her wrong,


s: To give her so much grief, and not a tongue.


s: 'Poor instrument,' quoth she, 'without a sound,


s: I'll tune thy woes with my lamenting tongue;


s: And drop sweet balm in Priam's painted wound,


s: And rail on Pyrrhus that hath done him wrong,


s: And with my tears quench Troy that burns so long;


s: And with my knife scratch out the angry eyes


s: Of all the Greeks that are thine enemies.


s: 'Show me the strumpet that began this stir,


s: That with my nails her beauty I may tear.


s: This load of wrath that burning Troy doth bear;


s: Thy eye kindled the fire that burneth here:


s: And here in Troy, for trespass of thine eye,


s: The sire, the son, the dame, and daughter die.


s: 'Why should the private pleasure of some one


s: Upon his head that hath transgressed so.


s: Let guiltless souls be freed from guilty woe:


s: For one's offence why should so many fall,


s: 'Lo, here weeps Hecuba, here Priam dies,


s: Here manly Hector faints, here Troilus swounds;


s: Here friend by friend in bloody channel lies,


s: And friend to friend gives unadvised wounds,


s: And one man's lust these many lives confounds:


s: Had doting Priam check'd his son's desire,


s: Troy had been bright with fame and not with fire.'


s: Here feelingly she weeps Troy's painted woes:


s: Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes;


s: Then little strength rings out the doleful knell:


s: So Lucrece set a-work sad tales doth tell


s: To pencill'd pensiveness and colour'd sorrow;


s: She lends them words, and she their looks doth borrow.


s: She throws her eyes about the painting round,


s: And whom she finds forlorn she doth lament:


s: At last she sees a wretched image bound,


s: That piteous looks to Phrygian shepherds lent:


s: His face, though full of cares, yet show'd content;


s: Onward to Troy with the blunt swains he goes,


s: So mild, that Patience seem'd to scorn his woes.


s: In him the painter labour'd with his skill


s: To hide deceit, and give the harmless show


s: An humble gait, calm looks, eyes wailing still,


s: A brow unbent, that seem'd to welcome woe;


s: Cheeks neither red nor pale, but mingled so


s: That blushing red no guilty instance gave,


s: Nor ashy pale the fear that false hearts have.


s: But, like a constant and confirmed devil,


s: And therein so ensconc'd his secret evil,


s: False-creeping craft and perjury should thrust


s: Into so bright a day such black-fac'd storms,


s: Or blot with hell-born sin such saint-like forms.


s: The well-skill'd workman this mild image drew


s: For perjur'd Sinon, whose enchanting story


s: Whose words, like wildfire, burnt the shining glory


s: Of rich-built Ilion, that the skies were sorry,


s: And little stars shot from their fixed places,


s: When their glass fell wherein they view'd their faces.


s: And chid the painter for his wondrous skill;


s: Saying, some shape in Sinon's was abus'd;


s: So fair a form lodged not a mind so ill:


s: And still on him she gaz'd; and gazing still,


s: Such signs of truth in his plain face she spied,


s: That she concludes the picture was belied.


s: 'It cannot be,' quoth she, 'that so much guile'--


s: (She would have said) 'can lurk in such a look;'


s: But Tarquin's shape came in her mind the while,


s: And from her tongue 'can lurk' from 'cannot' took;


s: 'It cannot be' she in that sense forsook,


s: And turn'd it thus: 'It cannot be, I find,


s: But such a face should bear a wicked mind:


s: 'For even as subtle Sinon here is painted,


s: (As if with grief or travail he had fainted,)


s: With inward vice: as Priam him did cherish,


s: So did I Tarquin; so my Troy did perish.


s: 'Look, look, how listening Priam wets his eyes,


s: To see those borrow'd tears that Sinon sheds.


s: Priam, why art thou old and yet not wise?


s: For every tear he falls a Trojan bleeds;


s: His eye drops fire, no water thence proceeds;


s: Those round clear pearls of his that move thy pity,


s: Are balls of quenchless fire to burn thy city.


s: 'Such devils steal effects from lightless hell;


s: For Sinon in his fire doth quake with cold,


s: And in that cold hot-burning fire doth dwell;


s: Only to flatter fools, and make them bold;


s: So Priam's trust false Sinon's tears doth flatter,


s: That he finds means to burn his Troy with water.'


s: Here, all enrag'd, such passion her assails,


s: That patience is quite beaten from her breast.


s: She tears the senseless Sinon with her nails,


s: Whose deed hath made herself herself detest;


s: At last she smilingly with this gives o'er;


s: 'Fool, fool!' quoth she, 'his wounds will not be sore.'


s: Thus ebbs and flows the current of her sorrow,


s: And time doth weary time with her complaining.


s: She looks for night, and then she longs for morrow,


s: And both she thinks too long with her remaining:


s: Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.


s: Though woe be heavy, yet it seldom sleeps;


s: And they that watch see time how slow it creeps.


s: Which all this time hath overslipp'd her thought,


s: That she with painted images hath spent;


s: Being from the feeling of her own grief brought


s: It easeth some, though none it ever cur'd,


s: To think their dolour others have endur'd.


s: But now the mindful messenger, come back,


s: Who finds his Lucrece clad in mourning black:


s: Blue circles stream'd, like rainbows in the sky.


s: Foretell new storms to those already spent.


s: Which when her sad-beholding husband saw,


s: Her eyes, though sod in tears, look'd red and raw,


s: Her lively colour kill'd with deadly cares.


s: He hath no power to ask her how she fares,


s: Both stood, like old acquaintance in a trance,


s: Met far from home, wondering each other's chance.


s: At last he takes her by the bloodless hand,


s: And thus begins: 'What uncouth ill event


s: Hath thee befall'n, that thou dost trembling stand?


s: Sweet love, what spite hath thy fair colour spent?


s: Why art thou thus attir'd in discontent?


s: Unmask, dear dear, this moody heaviness,


s: And tell thy grief, that we may give redress.'


s: Three times with sighs she gives her sorrow fire,


s: Ere once she can discharge one word of woe:


s: At length address'd to answer his desire,


s: Her honour is ta'en prisoner by the foe;


s: With sad attention long to hear her words.


s: And now this pale swan in her watery nest


s: Begins the sad dirge of her certain ending:


s: 'Few words,' quoth she, 'shall fit the trespass best,


s: Where no excuse can give the fault amending:


s: In me more woes than words are now depending;


s: And my laments would be drawn out too long,


s: To tell them all with one poor tired tongue.


s: 'Then be this all the task it hath to say:--


s: Dear husband, in the interest of thy bed


s: Where thou wast wont to rest thy weary head;


s: By foul enforcement might be done to me,


s: From that, alas! thy Lucrece is not free.


s: 'For in the dreadful dead of dark midnight,


s: With shining falchion in my chamber came


s: A creeping creature, with a flaming light,


s: And softly cried Awake, thou Roman dame,


s: And entertain my love; else lasting shame


s: On thee and thine this night I will inflict,


s: 'For some hard-favour'd groom of thine, quoth he,


s: I'll murder straight, and then I'll slaughter thee


s: And swear I found you where you did fulfil


s: The loathsome act of lust, and so did kill


s: The lechers in their deed: this act will be


s: 'With this, I did begin to start and cry,


s: And then against my heart he sets his sword,


s: I should not live to speak another word;


s: So should my shame still rest upon record,


s: The adulterate death of Lucrece and her groom.


s: 'Mine enemy was strong, my poor self weak,


s: And far the weaker with so strong a fear:


s: My bloody judge forbade my tongue to speak;


s: No rightful plea might plead for justice there:


s: That my poor beauty had purloin'd his eyes;


s: And when the judge is robb'd the prisoner dies.


s: 'O, teach me how to make mine own excuse!


s: Or at the least this refuge let me find;


s: Though my gross blood be stain'd with this abuse,


s: That was not forc'd; that never was inclin'd


s: Doth in her poison'd closet yet endure.'


s: Lo, here, the hopeless merchant of this loss,


s: With head declin'd, and voice damm'd up with woe,


s: With sad set eyes, and wretched arms across,


s: The grief away that stops his answer so:


s: But wretched as he is he strives in vain;


s: What he breathes out his breath drinks up again.


s: As through an arch the violent roaring tide


s: Outruns the eye that doth behold his haste;


s: Back to the strait that forc'd him on so fast;


s: In rage sent out, recall'd in rage, being past:


s: Even so his sighs, his sorrows make a saw.


s: To push grief on, and back the same grief draw.


s: Which speechless woe of his poor she attendeth,


s: 'Dear Lord, thy sorrow to my sorrow lendeth


s: Another power; no flood by raining slaketh.


s: More feeling-painful: let it then suffice


s: To drown one woe, one pair of weeping eyes.


s: 'And for my sake, when I might charm thee so,


s: For she that was thy Lucrece,--now attend me;


s: Thine, mine, his own: suppose thou dost defend me


s: From what is past: the help that thou shalt lend me


s: Comes all too late, yet let the traitor die;


s: 'But ere I name him, you fair lords,' quoth she,


s: (Speaking to those that came with Collatine)


s: 'Shall plight your honourable faiths to me,


s: With swift pursuit to venge this wrong of mine;


s: To chase injustice with revengeful arms:


s: Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies' harms.'


s: As bound in knighthood to her imposition,


s: Longing to hear the hateful foe bewray'd.


s: But she, that yet her sad task hath not said,


s: The protestation stops. 'O, speak,' quoth she,


s: 'How may this forced stain be wip'd from me?


s: Being constrain'd with dreadful circumstance?


s: May my pure mind with the foul act dispense,


s: May any terms acquit me from this chance?


s: The poison'd fountain clears itself again;


s: And why not I from this compelled stain?


s: With this, they all at once began to say,


s: Her body's stain her mind untainted clears;


s: While with a joyless smile she turns away


s: The face, that map which deep impression bears


s: Of hard misfortune, carv'd in it with tears.


s: 'No, no,' quoth she, 'no dame, hereafter living,


s: By my excuse shall claim excuse's giving.


s: Here with a sigh, as if her heart would break,


s: She throws forth Tarquin's name: 'He, he,' she says,


s: But more than 'he' her poor tongue could not speak;


s: Untimely breathings, sick and short assays,


s: She utters this: 'He, he, fair lords, 'tis he,


s: That guides this hand to give this wound to me.'


s: Even here she sheathed in her harmless breast


s: A harmful knife, that thence her soul unsheath'd:


s: That blow did bail it from the deep unrest


s: Of that polluted prison where it breath'd:


s: Her contrite sighs unto the clouds bequeath'd


s: Her winged sprite, and through her wounds doth fly


s: Life's lasting date from cancell'd destiny.


s: Stone-still, astonish'd with this deadly deed,


s: Stood Collatine and all his lordly crew;


s: Till Lucrece' father that beholds her bleed,


s: Himself on her self-slaughter'd body threw;


s: And from the purple fountain Brutus drew


s: The murderous knife, and, as it left the place,


s: Her blood, in poor revenge, held it in chase;


s: And bubbling from her breast, it doth divide


s: In two slow rivers, that the crimson blood


s: Who, like a late-sack'd island, vastly stood


s: Bare and unpeopled, in this fearful flood.


s: Some of her blood still pure and red remain'd,


s: And some look'd black, and that false Tarquin stain'd.


s: Of that black blood a watery rigol goes,


s: Which seems to weep upon the tainted place:


s: And ever since, as pitying Lucrece' woes,


s: Corrupted blood some watery token shows;


s: And blood untainted still doth red abide,


s: 'Daughter, dear daughter,' old Lucretius cries,


s: 'That life was mine which thou hast here depriv'd.


s: If in the child the father's image lies,


s: Where shall I live now Lucrece is unliv'd?


s: Thou wast not to this end from me deriv'd


s: We are their offspring, and they none of ours.


s: In thy sweet semblance my old age new born;


s: But now that fair fresh mirror, dim and old,


s: Shows me a bare-bon'd death by time outworn;


s: O, from thy cheeks my image thou hast torn!


s: And shiver'd all the beauty of my glass,


s: 'O time, cease thou thy course and last no longer,


s: If they surcease to be that should survive.


s: Shall rotten death make conquest of the stronger,


s: And leave the faltering feeble souls alive?


s: The old bees die, the young possess their hive:


s: Then live, sweet Lucrece, live again, and see


s: Thy father die, and not thy father thee!'


s: By this starts Collatine as from a dream,


s: And bids Lucretius give his sorrow place;


s: And then in key-cold Lucrece' bleeding stream


s: He falls, and bathes the pale fear in his face,


s: And counterfeits to die with her a space;


s: Till manly shame bids him possess his breath,


s: Who, mad that sorrow should his use control,


s: Or keep him from heart-easing words so long,


s: Begins to talk; but through his lips do throng


s: Weak words, so thick come in his poor heart's aid,


s: That no man could distinguish what he said.


s: Yet sometime 'Tarquin' was pronounced plain,


s: But through his teeth, as if the name he tore.


s: This windy tempest, till it blow up rain,


s: Held back his sorrow's tide, to make it more;


s: At last it rains, and busy winds give o'er:


s: Then son and father weep with equal strife,


s: Who should weep most, for daughter or for wife.


s: The one doth call her his, the other his,


s: Yet neither may possess the claim they lay,


s: The father says 'She's mine,' 'O, mine she is,'


s: My sorrow's interest; let no mourner say


s: He weeps for her, for she was only mine,


s: 'O,' quoth Lucretius, 'I did give that life


s: Which she too early and too late hath spill'd.'


s: 'Woe, woe,' quoth Collatine, 'she was my wife,


s: I owed her, and 'tis mine that she hath kill'd.'


s: 'My daughter' and 'my wife' with clamours fill'd


s: The dispers'd air, who, holding Lucrece' life,


s: Answer'd their cries, 'My daughter!' and 'My wife!'


s: Brutus, who pluck'd the knife from Lucrece' side,


s: Began to clothe his wit in state and pride,


s: Burying in Lucrece' wound his folly's show.


s: For sportive words, and uttering foolish things:


s: But now he throws that shallow habit by,


s: 'Thou wronged lord of Rome,' quoth he, 'arise;


s: Now set thy long-experienc'd wit to school.


s: 'Why, Collatine, is woe the cure for woe?


s: Do wounds help wounds, or grief help grievous deeds?


s: For his foul act by whom thy fair wife bleeds?


s: Such childish humour from weak minds proceeds:


s: Thy wretched wife mistook the matter so,


s: To slay herself, that should have slain her foe.


s: 'Courageous Roman, do not steep thy heart


s: But kneel with me, and help to bear thy part,


s: To rouse our Roman gods with invocations,


s: That they will suffer these abominations,


s: (Since Rome herself in them doth stand disgrac'd,)


s: By our strong arms from forth her fair streets chas'd.


s: And by this chaste blood so unjustly stain'd,


s: By heaven's fair sun that breeds the fat earth's store,


s: By all our country rights in Rome maintain'd,


s: And by chaste Lucrece' soul that late complain'd


s: Her wrongs to us, and by this bloody knife,


s: We will revenge the death of this true wife.'


s: This said, he struck his hand upon his breast,


s: And kiss'd the fatal knife, to end his vow;


s: Who, wondering at him, did his words allow;


s: Then jointly to the ground their knees they bow;


s: And that deep vow, which Brutus made before,


s: He doth again repeat, and that they swore.


s: When they had sworn to this advised doom,


s: They did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thence;


s: To show her bleeding body thorough Rome,


s: And so to publish Tarquin's foul offence:


s: THE love I dedicate to your lordship is without end; whereof this


s: warrant I have of your honourable disposition, not the worth of


s: my untutored lines, makes it assured of acceptance.  What I have


s: done is yours; what I have to do is yours; being part in all I


s: have, devoted yours.  Were my worth greater, my duty would show


s: greater; meantime, as it is, it is bound to your lordship, to


s: whom I wish long life, still lengthened with all happiness.


s: LUCIUS TARQUINIUS, for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus,


s: after he had caused his own father-in-law Servius Tullius to be


s: cruelly murdered, and, contrary to the Roman laws and customs,


s: not requiring or staying for the people's suffrages, had


s: possessed himself of the kingdom, went, accompanied with his sons


s: Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses after


s: supper every one commended the virtues of his own wife; among


s: whom Collatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife


s: Lucretia. In that pleasant humour they all posted to Rome; and


s: intending, by their secret and sudden arrival, to make trial of


s: that which every one had before avouched, only Collatinus finds


s: his wife, though it were late in the night, spinning amongst her


s: maids: the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling, or


s: in several disports.  Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus


s: the victory, and his wife the fame.  At that time Sextus


s: Tarquinius being inflamed with Lucrece' beauty, yet smothering


s: his passions for the present, departed with the rest back to the


s: camp; from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself, and


s: was, according to his estate, royally entertained and lodged by


s: Lucrece at Collatium.  The same night he treacherously stealeth


s: into her chamber, violently ravished her, and early in the


s: morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in this lamentable plight,


s: hastily dispatched messengers, one to Rome for her father,


s: another to the camp for Collatine.  They came, the one


s: accompanied with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius;


s: and finding Lucrece attired in mourning habit, demanded the cause


s: revenge4 revealed the actor, and whole manner of his dealing, and


s: they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the


s: Tarquins; and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted


s: the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed, with a


s: bitter invective against the tyranny of the king: wherewith the


s: people were so moved, that with one consent and a general


s: acclamation the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state


s: government changed from kings to consuls.


s: Borne by the trustless wings of false desire,


s: Lust-breathed Tarquin leaves the Roman host,


s: And to Collatium bears the lightless fire


s: Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire


s: And girdle with embracing flames the waist


s: Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece the chaste.


s: Haply that name of 'chaste' unhappily set


s: This bateless edge on his keen appetite;


s: To praise the clear unmatched red and white


s: Which triumph'd in that sky of his delight,


s: Where mortal stars, as bright as heaven's beauties,


s: With pure aspects did him peculiar duties.


s: For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent,


s: Unlock'd the treasure of his happy state;


s: What priceless wealth the heavens had him lent


s: In the possession of his beauteous mate;


s: Reckoning his fortune at such high-proud rate,


s: That kings might be espoused to more fame,


s: But king nor peer to such a peerless dame.


s: And, if possess'd, as soon decay'd and done


s: Against the golden splendour of the sun!


s: An expired date, cancell'd ere well begun:


s: Are weakly fortress'd from a world of harms.


s: From thievish ears, because it is his own?


s: Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sovereignty


s: For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be:


s: His high-pitch'd thoughts, that meaner men should vaunt


s: That golden hap which their superiors want.


s: His all-too-timeless speed, if none of those;


s: His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state,


s: Neglected all, with swift intent he goes


s: To quench the coal which in his liver glows.


s: O rash false heat, wrapp'd in repentant cold,


s: Thy hasty spring still blasts, and ne'er grows old!


s: When at Collatium this false lord arrived,


s: Within whose face beauty and virtue strived


s: Which of them both should underprop her fame:


s: When virtue bragg'd, beauty would blush for shame


s: Virtue would stain that o'er with silver white.


s: From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field:


s: Then virtue claims from beauty beauty's red,


s: Which virtue gave the golden age to gild


s: Their silver cheeks, and call'd it then their shield;


s: Teaching them thus to use it in the fight,


s: When shame assail'd, the red should fence the white.


s: This heraldry in Lucrece' face was seen,


s: Argued by beauty's red and virtue's white:


s: Proving from world's minority their right:


s: Yet their ambition makes them still to fight;


s: The sovereignty of either being so great,


s: That oft they interchange each other's seat.


s: Their silent war of lilies and of roses,


s: Which Tarquin view'd in her fair face's field,


s: In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses;


s: Where, lest between them both it should be kill'd,


s: The coward captive vanquished doth yield


s: To those two armies that would let him go,


s: Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue,--


s: In that high task hath done her beauty wrong,


s: Which far exceeds his barren skill to show:


s: Therefore that praise which Collatine doth owe


s: This earthly saint, adored by this devil,


s: For unstain'd thoughts do seldom dream on evil;


s: Birds never limed no secret bushes fear:


s: So guiltless she securely gives good cheer


s: And reverend welcome to her princely guest,


s: Whose inward ill no outward harm express'd:


s: For that he colour'd with his high estate,


s: Save sometime too much wonder of his eye,


s: Which, having all, all could not satisfy;


s: But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store,


s: That, cloy'd with much, he pineth still for more.


s: But she, that never coped with stranger eyes,


s: Could pick no meaning from their parling looks,


s: Writ in the glassy margents of such books:


s: She touch'd no unknown baits, nor fear'd no hooks;


s: Nor could she moralize his wanton sight,


s: More than his eyes were open'd to the light.


s: He stories to her ears her husband's fame,


s: And decks with praises Collatine's high name,


s: With bruised arms and wreaths of victory:


s: Her joy with heaved-up hand she doth express,


s: And, wordless, so greets heaven for his success.


s: Far from the purpose of his coming hither,


s: No cloudy show of stormy blustering weather


s: Doth yet in his fair welkin once appear;


s: Till sable Night, mother of Dread and Fear,


s: Upon the world dim darkness doth display,


s: For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed,


s: With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night:


s: Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth fight;


s: And every one to rest themselves betake,


s: Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds, that wake.


s: As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving


s: The sundry dangers of his will's obtaining;


s: Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining:


s: Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining;


s: And when great treasure is the meed proposed,


s: Though death be adjunct, there's no death supposed.


s: Those that much covet are with gain so fond,


s: For what they have not, that which they possess


s: They scatter and unloose it from their bond,


s: And so, by hoping more, they have but less;


s: Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain,


s: That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain.


s: With honour, wealth, and ease, in waning age;


s: And in this aim there is such thwarting strife,


s: That one for all, or all for one we gage;


s: As life for honour in fell battle's rage;


s: Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth cost


s: The death of all, and all together lost.


s: The things we are for that which we expect;


s: The thing we have; and, all for want of wit,


s: Make something nothing by augmenting it.


s: Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make,


s: And for himself himself he must forsake:


s: Then where is truth, if there be no self-trust?


s: When shall he think to find a stranger just,


s: When he himself himself confounds, betrays


s: To slanderous tongues and wretched hateful days?


s: Now stole upon the time the dead of night,


s: When heavy sleep had closed up mortal eyes:


s: No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding cries;


s: Now serves the season that they may surprise


s: The silly lambs: pure thoughts are dead and still,


s: While lust and murder wake to stain and kill.


s: And now this lustful lord leap'd from his bed,


s: Throwing his mantle rudely o'er his arm;


s: Is madly toss'd between desire and dread;


s: Th' one sweetly flatters, th' other feareth harm;


s: But honest fear, bewitch'd with lust's foul charm,


s: His falchion on a flint he softly smiteth,


s: That from the cold stone sparks of fire do fly;


s: Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,


s: Which must be lode-star to his lustful eye;


s: 'As from this cold flint I enforced this fire,


s: The dangers of his loathsome enterprise,


s: What following sorrow may on this arise:


s: Then looking scornfully, he doth despise


s: His naked armour of still-slaughter'd lust,


s: And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust:


s: 'Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not


s: To darken her whose light excelleth thine:


s: And die, unhallow'd thoughts, before you blot


s: With your uncleanness that which is divine;


s: That spots and stains love's modest snow-white weed.


s: 'O shame to knighthood and to shining arms!


s: O foul dishonour to my household's grave!


s: O impious act, including all foul harms!


s: True valour still a true respect should have;


s: 'Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive,


s: Some loathsome dash the herald will contrive,


s: That my posterity, shamed with the note,


s: Shall curse my bones, and hold it for no sin


s: To wish that I their father had not been.


s: 'What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?


s: A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.


s: Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?


s: For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?


s: Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,


s: Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?


s: Will he not wake, and in a desperate rage


s: Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent?


s: This siege that hath engirt his marriage,


s: This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,


s: This dying virtue, this surviving shame,


s: Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame?


s: When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed?


s: Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake,


s: Mine eyes forego their light, my false heart bleed?


s: The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed;


s: And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly,


s: But coward-like with trembling terror die.


s: Or were he not my dear friend, this desire


s: Might have excuse to work upon his wife,


s: As in revenge or quittal of such strife:


s: But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,


s: The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.


s: 'Shameful it is; ay, if the fact be known:


s: Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving:


s: I'll beg her love; but she is not her own:


s: My will is strong, past reason's weak removing.


s: Who fears a sentence or an old man's saw


s: Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.'


s: 'Tween frozen conscience and hot-burning will,


s: And with good thoughts makes dispensation,


s: Urging the worser sense for vantage still;


s: Which in a moment doth confound and kill


s: All pure effects, and doth so far proceed,


s: That what is vile shows like a virtuous deed.


s: Quoth he, 'She took me kindly by the hand,


s: Fearing some hard news from the warlike band,


s: O, how her fear did make her colour rise!


s: Then white as lawn, the roses took away.


s: 'And how her hand; in my hand being lock'd,


s: Forced it to tremble with her loyal fear!


s: Which struck her sad, and then it faster rock'd,


s: Until her husband's welfare she did hear;


s: Whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer,


s: That had Narcissus seen her as she stood,


s: Self-love had never drown'd him in the flood.


s: Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;


s: Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth:


s: Affection is my captain, and he leadeth;


s: The coward fights and will not be dismay'd.


s: 'Then, childish fear, avaunt! debating, die!


s: Respect and reason, wait on wrinkled age!


s: My heart shall never countermand mine eye:


s: Sad pause and deep regard beseem the sage;


s: My part is youth, and beats these from the stage:


s: Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?'


s: As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear


s: Full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust;


s: So cross him with their opposite persuasion,


s: That now he vows a league, and now invasion.


s: Within his thought her heavenly image sits,


s: And in the self-same seat sits Collatine:


s: That eye which locks on her confounds his wits;


s: That eye which him beholds, as more divine,


s: But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart,


s: Which once corrupted takes the worser part;


s: And therein heartens up his servile powers,


s: Who, flatter'd by their leader's jocund show,


s: Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours;


s: And as their captain, so their pride doth grow.


s: Paying more slavish tribute than they owe.


s: The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed.


s: The locks between her chamber and his will,


s: Each one by him enforced retires his ward;


s: But, as they open, they all rate his ill,


s: Which drives the creeping thief to some regard:


s: The threshold grates the door to have him heard;


s: Night-wandering weasels shriek to see him there;


s: They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.


s: As each unwilling portal yields him way,


s: Through little vents and crannies of the place


s: The wind wars with his torch to make him stay,


s: And blows the smoke of it into his face,


s: But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch,


s: Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch:


s: And being lighted, by the light he spies


s: Lucretia's glove, wherein her needle sticks:


s: He takes it from the rushes where it lies,


s: And griping it, the needle his finger pricks;


s: As who should say 'This glove to wanton tricks


s: Thou see'st our mistress' ornaments are chaste.'


s: But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him;


s: He in the worst sense construes their denial:


s: The doors, the wind, the glove, that did delay him,


s: He takes for accidental things of trial;


s: Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial,


s: Who with a lingering stay his course doth let,


s: Till every minute pays the hour his debt.


s: 'So, so,' quoth he, 'these lets attend the time,


s: Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring.


s: And give the sneaped birds more cause to sing.


s: Pain pays the income of each precious thing;


s: Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves and sands,


s: The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands.'


s: That shuts him from the heaven of his thought,


s: Which with a yielding latch, and with no more,


s: Hath barr'd him from the blessed thing he sought.


s: That for his prey to pray he doth begin,


s: As if the heavens should countenance his sin.


s: But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,


s: That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair


s: And they would stand auspicious to the hour,


s: Even there he starts: quoth he, 'I must de-flower:


s: The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact,


s: 'Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide!


s: Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried;


s: The blackest sin is clear'd with absolution;


s: Against love's fire fear's frost hath dissolution.


s: The eye of heaven is out, and misty night


s: Covers the shame that follows sweet delight.'


s: This said, his guilty hand pluck'd up the latch,


s: And with his knee the door he opens wide.


s: The dove sleeps fast that this night-owl will catch:


s: Thus treason works ere traitors be espied.


s: Who sees the lurking serpent steps aside;


s: But she, sound sleeping, fearing no such thing,


s: The curtains being close, about he walks,


s: Rolling his greedy eyeballs in his head:


s: By their high treason is his heart misled;


s: Which gives the watch-word to his hand full soon


s: To draw the cloud that hides the silver moon.


s: Look, as the fair and fiery-pointed sun,


s: Rushing from forth a cloud, bereaves our sight;


s: Even so, the curtain drawn, his eyes begun


s: To wink, being blinded with a greater light:


s: Whether it is that she reflects so bright,


s: That dazzleth them, or else some shame supposed;


s: But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed.


s: O, had they in that darksome prison died!


s: Then had they seen the period of their ill;


s: In his clear bed might have reposed still:


s: But they must ope, this blessed league to kill;


s: And holy-thoughted Lucrece to their sight


s: Must sell her joy, her life, her world's delight.


s: Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under,


s: Who, therefore angry, seems to part in sunder,


s: Swelling on either side to want his bliss;


s: Between whose hills her head entombed is:


s: Where, like a virtuous monument, she lies,


s: Without the bed her other fair hand was,


s: On the green coverlet; whose perfect white


s: Show'd like an April daisy on the grass,


s: With pearly sweat, resembling dew of night,


s: Her eyes, like marigolds, had sheathed their light,


s: Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath;


s: Showing life's triumph in the map of death,


s: And death's dim look in life's mortality:


s: Each in her sleep themselves so beautify,


s: As if between them twain there were no strife,


s: But that life lived in death, and death in life.


s: Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue,


s: Save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew,


s: These worlds in Tarquin new ambition bred;


s: From this fair throne to heave the owner out.


s: What could he see but mightily he noted?


s: What did he note but strongly he desired?


s: What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,


s: And in his will his wilful eye he tired.


s: Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.


s: So o'er this sleeping soul doth Tarquin stay,


s: Slack'd, not suppress'd; for standing by her side,


s: His eye, which late this mutiny restrains,


s: And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,


s: Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,


s: In bloody death and ravishment delighting,


s: Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,


s: Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:


s: Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,


s: Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking.


s: His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,


s: His eye commends the leading to his hand;


s: Smoking with pride, march'd on to make his stand


s: On her bare breast, the heart of all her land;


s: Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,


s: Left their round turrets destitute and pale.


s: Where their dear governess and lady lies,


s: And fright her with confusion of their cries:


s: She, much amazed, breaks ope her lock'd-up eyes,


s: Who, peeping forth this tumult to behold,


s: Are by his flaming torch dimm'd and controll'd.


s: From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking,


s: That thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite,


s: Whose grim aspect sets every joint a-shaking:


s: What terror 'tis! but she, in worser taking,


s: From sleep disturbed, heedfully doth view


s: The sight which makes supposed terror true.


s: Wrapp'd and confounded in a thousand fears,


s: Like to a new-kill'd bird she trembling lies;


s: She dares not look; yet, winking, there appears


s: Quick-shifting antics, ugly in her eyes:


s: Such shadows are the weak brain's forgeries;


s: Who, angry that the eyes fly from their lights,


s: In darkness daunts them with more dreadful sights.


s: His hand, that yet remains upon her breast, --


s: Rude ram, to batter such an ivory wall! --


s: May feel her heart --poor citizen! -- distress'd,


s: Wounding itself to death, rise up and fall,


s: Beating her bulk, that his hand shakes withal.


s: This moves in him more rage and lesser pity,


s: To make the breach and enter this sweet city.


s: First, like a trumpet, doth his tongue begin


s: Who o'er the white sheet peers her whiter chin.


s: But she with vehement prayers urgeth still


s: Thus he replies: 'The colour in thy face,


s: That even for anger makes the lily pale,


s: And the red rose blush at her own disgrace,


s: Shall plead for me and tell my loving tale:


s: Thy never-conquer'd fort: the fault is thine,


s: For those thine eyes betray thee unto mine.


s: 'Thus I forestall thee, if thou mean to chide:


s: Thy beauty hath ensnared thee to this night,


s: Where thou with patience must my will abide;


s: My will that marks thee for my earth's delight,


s: Which I to conquer sought with all my might;


s: 'I see what crosses my attempt will bring;


s: I know what thorns the growing rose defends;


s: All this beforehand counsel comprehends:


s: But will is deaf and hears no heedful friends;


s: And dotes on what he looks, 'gainst law or duty.


s: What wrong, what shame, what sorrow I shall breed;


s: But nothing can affection's course control,


s: This said, he shakes aloft his Roman blade,


s: Which, like a falcon towering in the skies,


s: Coucheth the fowl below with his wings' shade,


s: Whose crooked beak threats if he mount he dies:


s: Harmless Lucretia, marking what he tells


s: With trembling fear, as fowl hear falcon's bells.


s: 'Lucrece,' quoth he, 'this night I must enjoy thee:


s: If thou deny, then force must work my way,


s: For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee:


s: That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay.


s: To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;


s: And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,


s: Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him.


s: Thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain,


s: Shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes,


s: And sung by children in succeeding times.


s: 'But if thou yield, I rest thy secret friend:


s: The fault unknown is as a thought unacted;


s: The poisonous simple sometimes is compacted


s: 'Then, for thy husband and thy children's sake,


s: Tender my suit: bequeath not to their lot


s: The shame that from them no device can take,


s: Worse than a slavish wipe or birth-hour's blot:


s: Are nature's faults, not their own infamy.'


s: Here with a cockatrice's dead-killing eye


s: He rouseth up himself and makes a pause;


s: Like a white hind under the gripe's sharp claws,


s: Pleads, in a wilderness where are no laws,


s: To the rough beast that knows no gentle right,


s: But when a black-faced cloud the world doth threat,


s: In his dim mist the aspiring mountains hiding,


s: From earth's dark womb some gentle gust doth get,


s: Which blows these pitchy vapours from their biding,


s: Hindering their present fall by this dividing;


s: So his unhallow'd haste her words delays,


s: And moody Pluto winks while Orpheus plays.


s: Yet, foul night-working cat, he doth but dally,


s: While in his hold-fast foot the weak mouse panteth:


s: Her sad behaviour feeds his vulture folly,


s: A swallowing gulf that even in plenty wanteth:


s: His ear her prayers admits, but his heart granteth


s: Tears harden lust, though marble wear with raining.


s: In the remorseless wrinkles of his face;


s: Her modest eloquence with sighs is mixed,


s: She puts the period often from his place;


s: And midst the sentence so her accent breaks,


s: That twice she doth begin ere once she speaks.


s: By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath,


s: By her untimely tears, her husband's love,


s: By heaven and earth, and all the power of both,


s: That to his borrow'd bed he make retire,


s: And stoop to honour, not to foul desire.


s: With such black payment as thou hast pretended;


s: Mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee;


s: Mar not the thing that cannot be amended;


s: End thy ill aim before the shoot be ended;


s: 'My husband is thy friend; for his sake spare me:


s: Thyself art mighty; for thine own sake leave me:


s: Myself a weakling; do not then ensnare me:


s: Thou look'st not like deceit; do not deceive me.


s: My sighs, like whirlwinds, labour hence to heave thee:


s: If ever man were moved with woman's moans,


s: Be moved with my tears, my sighs, my groans:


s: 'All which together, like a troubled ocean,


s: Beat at thy rocky and wreck-threatening heart,


s: To soften it with their continual motion;


s: For stones dissolved to water do convert.


s: 'In Tarquin's likeness I did entertain thee:


s: Hast thou put on his shape to do him shame?


s: To all the host of heaven I complain me,


s: Thou wrong'st his honour, wound'st his princely name.


s: Thou art not what thou seem'st; and if the same,


s: Thou seem'st not what thou art, a god, a king;


s: For kings like gods should govern every thing.


s: 'How will thy shame be seeded in thine age,


s: When thus thy vices bud before thy spring!


s: If in thy hope thou darest do such outrage,


s: What darest thou not when once thou art a king?


s: Then kings' misdeeds cannot be hid in clay.


s: 'This deed will make thee only loved for fear;


s: But happy monarchs still are fear'd for love:


s: With foul offenders thou perforce must bear,


s: When they in thee the like offences prove:


s: If but for fear of this, thy will remove;


s: For princes are the glass, the school, the book,


s: Where subjects eyes do learn, do read, do look.


s: 'And wilt thou be the school where Lust shall learn?


s: Must he in thee read lectures of such shame?


s: Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern


s: Thou back'st reproach against long-living laud,


s: 'Hast thou command? by him that gave it thee,


s: From a pure heart command thy rebel will:


s: For it was lent thee all that brood to kill.


s: Thy princely office how canst thou fulfill,


s: When, pattern'd by thy fault, foul sin may say


s: He learn'd to sin, and thou didst teach the way?


s: 'Think but how vile a spectacle it were,


s: To view thy present trespass in another.


s: Men's faults do seldom to themselves appear;


s: Their own transgressions partially they smother:


s: This guilt would seem death-worthy in thy brother.


s: O, how are they wrapp'd in with infamies


s: That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!


s: 'To thee, to thee, my heaved-up hands appeal,


s: Let him return, and flattering thoughts retire:


s: His true respect will prison false desire,


s: And wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne,


s: That thou shalt see thy state and pity mine.'


s: 'Have done,' quoth he: 'my uncontrolled tide


s: Turns not, but swells the higher by this let.


s: Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide,


s: To their salt sovereign, with their fresh falls' haste


s: Add to his flow, but alter not his taste.'


s: 'Thou art,' quoth she, 'a sea, a sovereign king;


s: And, lo, there falls into thy boundless flood


s: Black lust, dishonour, shame, misgoverning,


s: Who seek to stain the ocean of thy blood.


s: If all these petty ills shall change thy good,


s: Thy sea within a puddle's womb is hearsed,


s: And not the puddle in thy sea dispersed.


s: 'So shall these slaves be king, and thou their slave;


s: Thou their fair life, and they thy fouler grave:


s: Thou loathed in their shame, they in thy pride:


s: The lesser thing should not the greater hide;


s: The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot,


s: But low shrubs whither at the cedar's root.


s: 'So let thy thoughts, low vassals to thy state' --


s: 'No more,' quoth he; 'by heaven, I will not hear thee:


s: Yield to my love; if not, enforced hate,


s: Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee;


s: That done, despitefully I mean to bear thee


s: To be thy partner in this shameful doom.'


s: This said, he sets his foot upon the light,


s: Shame folded up in blind concealing night,


s: When most unseen, then most doth tyrannize.


s: The wolf hath seized his prey, the poor lamb cries;


s: Till with her own white fleece her voice controll'd


s: Entombs her outcry in her lips' sweet fold:


s: For with the nightly linen that she wears


s: He pens her piteous clamours in her head;


s: Cooling his hot face in the chastest tears


s: O, that prone lust should stain so pure a bed!


s: Her tears should drop on them perpetually.