Lucrece (Modern)

Author: William Shakespeare

Editor: Hardy M. Cook

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Lucrece (Modern)
- Work
- Stanza
  1. Dedication
  2. Argument
  3. 1 — 5
  4. 6 — 10
  5. 11 — 15
  6. 16 — 20
  7. 21 — 25
  8. 26 — 30
  9. 31 — 35
  10. 36 — 40
  11. 41 — 45
  12. 46 — 50
  13. 51 — 55
  14. 56 — 60
  15. 61 — 65
  16. 66 — 70
  17. 71 — 75
  18. 76 — 80
  19. 81 — 85
  20. 86 — 90
  21. 91 — 95
  22. 96 — 100
  23. 101 — 105
  24. 106 — 110
  25. 111 — 115
  26. 116 — 120
  27. 121 — 125
  28. 126 — 130
  29. 131 — 135
  30. 136 — 140
  31. 141 — 145
  32. 146 — 150
  33. 151 — 155
  34. 156 — 160
  35. 161 — 165
  36. 166 — 170
  37. 171 — 175
  38. 176 — 180
  39. 181 — 185
  40. 186 — 190
  41. 191 — 195
  42. 196 — 200
  43. 201 — 205
  44. 206 — 210
  45. 211 — 215
  46. 216 — 220
  47. 221 — 225
  48. 226 — 230
  49. 231 — 235
  50. 236 — 240
  51. 241 — 245
  52. 246 — 250
  53. 251 — 255
  54. 256 — 260
  55. 261 — 265
Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)
- Work
- Stanza
  1. Titlepage
  2. Dedication
  3. Argument
  4. 1 — 5
  5. 6 — 10
  6. 11 — 15
  7. 16 — 20
  8. 21 — 25
  9. 26 — 30
  10. 31 — 35
  11. 36 — 40
  12. 41 — 45
  13. 46 — 50
  14. 51 — 55
  15. 56 — 60
  16. 61 — 65
  17. 66 — 70
  18. 71 — 75
  19. 76 — 80
  20. 81 — 85
  21. 86 — 90
  22. 91 — 95
  23. 96 — 100
  24. 101 — 105
  25. 106 — 110
  26. 111 — 115
  27. 116 — 120
  28. 121 — 125
  29. 126 — 130
  30. 131 — 135
  31. 136 — 140
  32. 141 — 145
  33. 146 — 150
  34. 151 — 155
  35. 156 — 160
  36. 161 — 165
  37. 166 — 170
  38. 171 — 175
  39. 176 — 180
  40. 181 — 185
  41. 186 — 190
  42. 191 — 195
  43. 196 — 200
  44. 201 — 205
  45. 206 — 210
  46. 211 — 215
  47. 216 — 220
  48. 221 — 225
  49. 226 — 230
  50. 231 — 235
  51. 236 — 240
  52. 241 — 245
  53. 246 — 250
  54. 251 — 255
  55. 256 — 260
  56. 261 — 265
- Page
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39
  40. 40
  41. 41
  42. 42
  43. 43
  44. 44
  45. 45
  46. 46
  47. 47
  48. 48
  49. 49
  50. 50
  51. 51
  52. 52
  53. 53
  54. 54
  55. 55
  56. 56
  57. 57
  58. 58
  59. 59
  60. 60
  61. 61
  62. 62
  63. 63
  64. 64
  65. 65
  66. 66
  67. 67
  68. 68
  69. 69
  70. 70
  71. 71
  72. 72
  73. 73
  74. 74
  75. 75
  76. 76
  77. 77
  78. 78
  79. 79
  80. 80
  81. 81
  82. 82
  83. 83
  84. 84
  85. 85
  86. 86
  87. 87
  88. 88
  89. 89
  90. 90
  91. 91
  92. 92
  93. 93

1From the besièged Ardea all in post,
¶Borne by the trustless wings of false desire,
¶Lust-breathèd Tarquin leaves the Roman host
¶And to Collatium bears the lightless fire,
5Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire
¶And girdle with embracing flames the waist
¶Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece, the chaste.

¶Haply that name of "chaste" unhapp'ly set
¶This bateless edge on his keen appetite,
10When Collatine unwisely did not let
¶To praise the clear unmatchèd red and white,
¶Which triumphed in that sky of his delight,
¶Where mortal stars, as bright as heaven's beauties,
¶With pure aspects did him peculiar duties.

15For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent,
¶Unlocked the treasure of his happy state:
¶What priceless wealth the heavens had him lent
¶In the possession of his beauteous mate,
¶Reck'ning his fortune at such high proud rate
20That kings might be espousèd to more fame,
¶But king nor peer to such a peerless dame.

¶O happiness enjoyed but of a few,
¶And, if possessed, as soon decayed and done
¶As is the morning silver melting dew
25Against the golden splendor of the sun;
¶An expired date, canceled ere well begun.
¶Honor and beauty in the owner's arms
¶Are weakly fortressed from a world of harms.

¶Beauty itself doth of itself persuade
30The eyes of men without an orator.
¶What needeth then apology be made
¶To set forth that which is so singular?
¶Or why is Collatine the publisher
¶Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown
35From thievish ears, because it is his own?

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Lucrece (Modern)

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Lucrece (Modern)