14610161016"Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools,
10171017Unprofitable sounds, weak arbitrators;
10181018Busy yourselves in skill-contending schools;
10191019Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters;
10201020To trembling clients be you mediators.
10211021For me, I force not argument a straw,
10221022Since that my case is past the help of law."
10241024At Time, at Tarquin, and uncheerful Night;
10251025In vain I cavil with mine infamy;
10261026In vain I spurn at my confirmed despite.
10271027This helpless smoke of words doth me no right.
10291029Is to let forth my foul defilèd blood."
14810301030"Poor hand, why quiver'st thou at this decree?
10311031Honor thyself to rid me of this shame,
10321032For if I die, my honor lives in thee,
10331033But if I live, thou liv'st in my defame.
10341034Since thou couldst not defend thy loyal dame
10351035And waste afeard to scratch her wicked foe,
10361036Kill both thyself and her for yielding so."
14910371037This said, from her betumbled couch she starteth,
10381038To find some desp'rate instrument of death,
10391039But this, no slaughterhouse, no tool imparteth
10401040To make more vent for passage of her breath,
10411041Which, thronging through her lips, so vanisheth
10421042As smoke from Etna that in air consumes
10431043Or that which from dischargèd cannon fumes.
15010441044"In vain," quoth she, "I live and seek in vain
10451045Some happy mean to end a hapless life.
10461046I feared by Tarquin's falchion to be slain,
10471047Yet for the selfsame purpose seek a knife;
10481048But when I feared, I was a loyal wife.
10491049So am I now -- O no, that cannot be;
10501050Of that true type hath Tarquin rifled me."