Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)
Author: William ShakespeareEditor: Hardy M. CookNot Peer Reviewed
THE RAPE OF
LVCRECE.
1F
ROM the be
sieged Ardea all in po
st,
¶Borne by the tru
stle
sse wings of fal
se de
sire,
¶Lu
st-breathed TARQVIN, leaues the Roman ho
st,
¶And to Colatium beares the lightle
sse fire,
5VVhich in pale embers hid, lurkes to a
spire,
¶_And girdle with embracing flames, the wa
st
¶_Of
COLATINES fair loue,
LVCRECE the cha
st.
¶Hap'ly that name of cha
st, vnhap'ly
set
¶This batele
sse edge on his keene appetite:
10VVhen
COLATINE vnwi
sely did not let,
¶To prai
se the cleare vnmatched red and white,
¶VVhich triumpht in that skie of his delight:
¶_VVhere mortal
stars as bright as heauēs Beauties,
¶_VVith pure a
spects did him peculiar dueties.