Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)

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 besieged Ardea all in post,
¶Borne by the trustlesse wings of false desire,
¶Lust-breathed TARQVIN, leaues the Roman host,
¶And to Colatium beares the lightlesse fire,
5VVhich in pale embers hid, lurkes to aspire,
¶_And girdle with embracing flames, the wast
¶_Of COLATINES fair loue, LVCRECE the chast.

¶Hap'ly that name of chast, vnhap'ly set
¶This batelesse edge on his keene appetite:
10VVhen COLATINE vnwisely did not let,
¶To praise the cleare vnmatched red and white,
¶VVhich triumpht in that skie of his delight:
¶_VVhere mortal stars as bright as heauēs Beauties,
¶_VVith pure aspects did him peculiar dueties.

15For he the night before in Tarquins Tent,
¶Vnlockt the treasure of his happie state:
¶VVhat priselesse wealth the heauens had him lent,
¶In the possession of his beauteous mate.
¶Reckning his fortune at such high proud rate,
20_That Kings might be espowsed to more fame,
¶_But King nor Peere to such a peerelesse dame.

¶O happinesse enioy'd but of a few,
¶And if possest as soone decayed and done:
¶As is the mornings siluer melting dew,
25Against the golden splendour of the Sunne.
¶An expir'd date canceld ere well begunne.
¶_Honour and Beautie in the owners armes,
¶_Are weakelie fortrest from a world of_harmes.

¶Beautie it selfe doth of it selfe perswade,
30The eies of men without an Orator,
¶VVhat needeth then Apologies be made
¶To set forth that which is so singuler?
¶Or why is Colatine the publisher
¶_Of that rich iewell he should keepe vnknown,
35_From theeuish eares because it is his owne?

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Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)

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Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)