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Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Not Peer Reviewed
  1. Lucrece (Modern)
  2. Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)

THE RAPE OF LVCRECE.

540Here with a Cockeatrice dead killing eye,
He rowseth vp himselfe, and makes a pause,
VVhile shee the picture of pure pietie,
Like a white Hinde vnder the grypes sharpe clawes,
Pleades in a wildernesse where are no lawes,
545To the rough beast, that knowes no gentle right,
Nor ought obayes but his fowle appetite.

But when a black-fac'd clowd the world doth thret,
In his dim mist th'aspiring mountaines hiding:
From earths dark-womb, some gentle gust doth get,
550VVhich blow these pitchie vapours frō their biding:
Hindring their present fall by this deuiding.
So his vnhallowed hast her words delayes,
And moodie PLVTO winks while Orpheus playes.

Yet fowle night-waking Cat he doth but dallie,
555VVhile in his hold-fast foot the weak mouse pāteth,
Her sad behauiour feedes his vulture follie,
A swallowing gulfe that euen in plentie wanteth.
His eare her prayers admits, but his heart granteth
No penetrable entrance to her playning,
560"Tears harden lust though marble were with ray-
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