Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)
Author: William ShakespeareEditor: Hardy M. CookNot Peer Reviewed


¶At la
st
shee cals to mind where hangs a peece
¶Of skilfull painting, made for
PRIAMS Troy,
¶Before the which is drawn the power of Greece,
¶For
HELENS rape, the Cittie to de
stroy,
1370Threatning cloud-ki
ssing
ILLION with annoy,
¶_VVhich the conceipted Painter drew
so prowd,
¶_As Heauen (it
seem'd) to ki
sse the turrets bow'd.
¶A thou
sand lamentable obiects there,
¶In
scorne of Nature, Art gaue liuele
sse life,
1375Many a dry drop
seem'd a weeping teare,
¶Shed for the
slaughtred husband by the wife.
¶The red bloud reek'd to
shew the Painters
strife,
¶_And dying eyes gleem'd forth their a
shie lights,
¶_Like dying coales burnt out in tedious nights.
1380There might you
see the labouring Pyoner
¶Begrim'd with
sweat, and
smeared all with du
st,
¶And from the towres of Troy, there would appeare
¶The verie eyes of men through loop-holes thru
st,
¶Gazing vppon the Greekes with little lu
st,
1385_Such
sweet ob
seruance in this worke was had,
¶_That one might
see tho
se farre of eyes looke
sad.
¶In great commaunders, Grace, and Maie
stie,
¶You might behold triumphing in their faces,
¶In youth quick-bearing and dexteritie,
1390And here and there the Painter interlaces
¶Pale cowards marching on with trembling paces.
¶_VVhich hartle
sse pea
saunts did
so wel re
semble,
¶_That one would
swear he
saw them quake & trēble.
¶In
AIAX and
VLYSSES, ô what Art
1395Of Phi
siognomy might one behold!
¶The face of eyther cypher'd eythers heart,
¶Their face, their manners mo
st expre
slie told,
¶In
AIAX eyes blunt rage and rigour rold,
¶_But the mild glance that
slie
VLYSSES lent,
1400_Shewed deepe regard and
smiling gouernment.

