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


¶As the grim Lion fawneth ore his pray,
¶Sharpe hunger by the conque
st
satisfied:
¶So ore this
sleeping
soule doth
TARQVIN stay,
¶His rage of lu
st by gazing qualified;
425Slakt, not
suppre
st, for
standing by her
side,
¶_His eye which late this mutiny re
straines,
¶_Vnto a greater vprore tempts his vaines.
¶And they like
stragling
slaues for pillage fighting,
¶Obdurate va
ssals fell exploits effecting,
430In bloudy death and raui
shment delighting;
¶Nor childrens tears nor mothers grones re
specting,
¶Swell in their pride, the on
set
still expecting:
¶_Anon his beating heart allarum
striking,
¶_Giues the hot charge, & bids thē do their liking.
435His drumming heart cheares vp his burning eye,
¶His eye commends the leading to his hand;
¶His hand as proud of
such a dignitie,
¶Smoaking with pride, marcht on, to make his
stand
¶On her bare bre
st, the heart of all her land;
440_VVho
se ranks of blew vains as his hand did
scale,
¶_Left their round turrets de
stitute and pale.
¶They mu
string to the quiet Cabinet,
¶VVhere their deare gouerne
sse and ladie lies,
¶Do tell her
shee is dreadfullie be
set,
445And fright her with confu
sion of their cries.
¶Shee much amaz'd breakes ope her lockt vp eyes,
¶_VVho peeping foorth this tumult to behold,
¶_Are by his flaming torch dim'd and controld.
¶Imagine her as one in dead of night,
450From forth dull
sleepe by dreadfull fancie waking,
¶That thinkes
shee hath beheld
some ga
stlie
sprite,
¶VVho
se grim a
spect
sets euerie ioint a
shaking,
¶VVhat terror tis: but
shee in wor
ser taking,
¶_From
sleepe di
sturbed, heedfullie doth view
455_The
sight which makes
suppo
sed terror trew.

