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


¶There pleading might you
see graue NESTOR
stand,
¶As'twere incouraging the Greekes to fight,
¶Making
such
sober action with his hand,
¶That it beguild attention, charm'd the
sight,
1405In
speech it
seemd his beard, all
siluer white,
¶_VVag'd vp and downe, and from his lips did flie,
¶_Thin winding breath which purl'd vp to the skie.
¶About him were a pre
sse of gaping faces,
¶VVhich
seem'd to
swallow vp his
sound aduice,
1410All ioyntlie li
stning, but with
seuerall graces,
¶As if
some Marmaide did their eares intice,
¶Some high,
some low, the Painter was
so nice.
¶_The
scalpes of manie almo
st hid behind,
¶_To iump vp higher
seem'd to mocke the mind.
1415Here one mans hand leand on anothers head,
¶His no
se being
shadowed by his neighbours eare,
¶Here one being throng'd, bears back all boln, & red,
¶Another
smotherd,
seemes to pelt and
sweare,
¶And in their rage
such
signes of rage they beare,
1420_As but for lo
sse of
NESTORS golden words,
¶_It
seem'd they would debate with angrie
swords.
¶For much imaginarie worke was there,
¶Conceipt deceitfull,
so compact
so kinde,
¶That for
ACHILLES image
stood his
speare
1425Grip't in an Armed hand, him
selfe behind
¶VVas left vn
seene,
saue to the eye of mind,
¶_A hand, a foote, a face, a leg, a head
¶_Stood for the whole to be imagined.
¶And from the wals of
strong be
sieged
TROY,
1430VVhen their braue hope, bold
HECTOR march'd to
(field,
¶Stood manie Troian mothers
sharing ioy,
¶To
see their youthfull
sons bright weapons wield,
¶And to their hope they
such odde action yeeld,
¶_That through their light ioy
seemed to appeare,
1435_(Like bright things
staind) a kind of heauie feare.

