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


¶But if thou yeeld, I re
st thy
secret friend,
¶The fault vnknowne, is as a thought vnacted,
¶"A little harme done to a great good end,
¶For lawfull pollicie remaines enacted.
530"The poy
sonous
simple
sometime is compacted
¶_In a pure compound; being
so applied,
¶_His venome in effect is purified.
¶Then for thy husband and thy childrens
sake,
¶Tender my
suite, bequeath not to their lot
535The
shame that from them no deui
se can take,
¶The blemi
sh that will neuer be forgot:
¶VVor
se then a
slaui
sh wipe, or birth howrs blot,
¶_For markes di
scried in mens natiuitie,
¶_Are natures faultes, not their owne infamie.
540Here with a Cockeatrice dead killing eye,
¶He row
seth vp him
selfe, and makes a pau
se,
¶VVhile
shee the picture of pure pietie,
¶Like a white Hinde vnder the grypes
sharpe clawes,
¶Pleades in a wilderne
sse where are no lawes,
545_To the rough bea
st, that knowes no gentle right,
¶_Nor ought obayes but his fowle appetite.
¶But when a black-fac'd clowd the world doth thret,
¶In his dim mi
st th'a
spiring mountaines hiding:
¶From earths dark-womb,
some gentle gu
st doth get,
550VVhich blow the
se pitchie vapours frō their biding:
¶Hindring their pre
sent fall by this deuiding.
¶_So his vnhallowed ha
st her words delayes,
¶_And moodie PLVTO winks while Orpheus playes.
¶Yet fowle night-waking Cat he doth but dallie,
555VVhile in his hold-fa
st foot the weak mou
se pāteth,
¶Her
sad behauiour feedes his vulture follie,
¶A
swallowing gulfe that euen in plentie wanteth.
¶His eare her prayers admits, but his heart granteth
¶_No penetrable entrance to her playning,
560_"Tears harden lu
st though marble were with ray
ning.

