12621262Assailed by night with circumstances strong
12631263Of present death, and shame that might ensue
12641264By that her death, to do her husband wrong.
12651265Such danger to resistance did belong
12661266That dying fear through all her body spread;
12671267And who cannot abuse a body dead?
18212681268By this, mild patience bid fair Lucrece speak
12691269To the poor counterfeit of her complaining.
12701270"My girl," quoth she, "on what occasion break
12711271Those tears from thee that down thy cheeks are raining?
12721272If thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining,
12731273Know, gentle wench, it small avails my mood.
12741274If tears could help, mine own would do me good."
18312751275"But tell me, girl, when went" -- and there she stayed
12761276Till after a deep groan -- "Tarquin from hence?"
12771277"Madam, ere I was up," replied the maid,
12781278"The more to blame my sluggard negligence.
12791279Yet with the fault I thus far can dispense:
12801280Myself was stirring ere the break of day,
12811281And, ere I rose, was Tarquin gone away."
12831283She would request to know your heaviness."
12841284"O, peace," quoth Lucrece. "If it should be told,
12851285The repetition cannot make it less;
12861286For more it is than I can well express,
12871287And that deep torture may be called a hell
12881288When more is felt then one hath power to tell."
12901290Yet save that labor, for I have them here.
12911291What should I say? One of my husband's men
12921292Bid thou be ready, by and by, to bear
12931293A letter to my lord, my love, my dear.
12941294Bid him with speed prepare to carry it;
12951295The cause craves haste, and it will soon be writ."