Sith in his prime death doth my love destroy, For every little grief to wet his eyes: enjoy." 195. And so 'tis thine; but know, it is as good 198. By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd Was melted like a vapour from her sight; And in his blood, that on the ground lay spill'd, "Here was thy father's bed, here in my breast; A purple flower sprung up, checker'd with Thou art the next of blood, and 'tis thy right: white, [blood Lo! in this hollow cradle take thy rest, Resembling well his pale cheeks, and the My throbbing heart shall rock thee day and Which in round drops upon their whiteness night: There shall not be one minute in an hour, Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower." LUCRECE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON AND BARON OF TITCHFIELD. THE love I dedicate to your lordship is without end; whereof this pamphlet, without beginning, is but a superfluous moiety. The warrant I have of your honourable disposition, not the worth of my untutored lines, makes it assured of acceptance. What I have done is yours; what I have to do is yours; being part in all I have, devoted yours. Were my worth greater, my duty would show greater; meantime, as it is, it is bound to your Lordship, to whom I wish long life, still lengthened with happiness. Your Lordship's in all duty, WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. THE ARGUMENT. LUCIUS TARQUINIUS, (for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus,) after he had caused his own father-in-law, Servius Tullius, to be cruelly murdered, and contrary to the Roman laws and customs, not requiring or staying for the people's suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom, went, accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea. During which siege the principal men of the army meeting one evening at the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses after supper, every one commended the virtues of his own wife; among whom, Collatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humour they all posted to Rome; and intending, by their secret and sudden arrival, to make trial of that which every one had before avouched, only Collatinus finds his wife (though it were late in the night) spinning amongst her maids: the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling, or in several disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius, being inflamed with Lucrece' beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present, departed with the rest back to the camp; from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself, and was (according to his estate) royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at Collatium. The same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber, violently ravished her, and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in this lamentable plight, hastily despatcheth messengers, one to Rome for her father, and another to the camp for Collatine. They came, the one ac companied with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius; and finding Lucrece attired in mourning habit, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She, first taking an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the actor, and the whole manner of his dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which done, with one consent they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the Tarquins; and, bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the king: wherewith the people were so moved, that with one consent and a general acclamation, the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from kings to consuls. I. FROM the besieged Ardea all in post, And girdle with embracing flames the waist 2. Haply that name of "chaste" unhapp'ly set With pure aspects did him peculiar duties. 3. For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent, 4. O happiness enjoy'd but of a few! Beauty itself doth of itself persuade Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sovereignty His high-pitched thoughts, that meaner men That golden hap which their superiors want. 7. But some untimely thought did instigate For unstain'd thoughts do seldom dream on Birds never lim'd no secret bushes fear : [evil; So guiltless she securely gives good cheer And reverent welcome to her princely guest, Whose inward ill no outward harm express'd: 14. For that he colour'd with his high estate, But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store, more. 15. But she, that never cop'd with stranger eyes, Nor could she moralize his wanton sight, He stories to her ears her husband's fame, [cess. And, wordless, so greets heaven for his suc17. Far from the purpose of his coming thither, 18. For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed, And every one to rest themselves betake, Save thieves and cares, and troubled minds that wake. 19. As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining; 20. Those that much covet are with gain so fond, That what they have not, that which they possess, So that, in venturing ill, we leave to be In having much, torments us with defect The thing we have; and, all for want of wit, Make something nothing, by augmenting it. 23. Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make, 31. "What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy? Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown, Would with the sceptre straight be strucken [down? 32. "If Collatinus dream of my intent, Will he not wake, and in a desperate rage ? Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent This siege that hath engirt his marriage, This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage, This dying virtue, this surviving shame, Whose crime will bear an ever-during [blame? 33. "O what excuse can my invention make, When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed? [shake, Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints Mine eyes forego their light, my false heart bleed? The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed; And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly, But, coward-like, with trembling terror die. And how her hand, in my hand being lock'd, Forc'd it to tremble with her loyal fear! Which struck her sad, and then it faster rock'd, Until her husband's welfare she did hear; Whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer, " That had Narcissus seen her as she stood, Self-love had never drown'd him in the flood. 39. 'Why hunt I, then, for colour or excuses? All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth ; Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses; Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth : Affection is my captain, and he leadeth; And when his gaudy banner is display'd, The coward fights, and will not be dismay'd. As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear So cross him with their opposite persuasion, That now he vows a league, and now invasion. 42. Within his thought her heavenly image sits, And in the selfsame seat sits Collatine : That eye which looks on her confounds his wits; Which with a yielding latch, and with no more, That eye which him beholds, as more divine,Hath barr'd him from the blessed thing he Unto a view so false will not incline; But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart, Which, once corrupted, takes the worser part; 43. And therein heartens up his servile powers, Who, flatter'd by their leader's jocund show, Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours: And as their captain, so their pride doth grow, Paying more slavish tribute than they owe. By reprobate desire thus madly led, The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed. 44. The locks between her chamber and his will, Each one by him enforc'd, retires his ward; But, as they open, they all rate his ill, Which drives the creeping thief to some regard: The threshold grates the door to have him heard ; [there; Night-wand'ring weasels shriek to see him They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear. 45. As each unwilling portal yields him way, Through little vents and crannies of the place The wind wars with his torch, to make him And blows the smoke of it into his face, [stay, Extinguishing his conduct in this case; But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch, Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch : And being lighted, by the light he spies chaste. 48. "So, so," quoth he," these lets attend the time, Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring, To add a more rejoicing to the prime, [sing. Now is he come unto the chamber door, sought. So from himself impiety hath wrought, That for his prey to pray he doth begin, But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer, The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact, How can they, then, assist me in the act? 51. "Then love and fortune be my gods, my My will is back'd with resolution: Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be [guide! tried ; The blackest sin is clear'd with absolution; Against love's fire fear's frost hath dissolution. The eye of heaven is out, and misty night Covers the shame that follows sweet delight." To draw the cloud that hides the silver moon. Look, as the fair and fiery-pointed sun, That dazzleth them, or else some shame O, had they in that darksome prison died! |