13321332"At Ardea to my lord with more than haste."
13331333The post attends, and she delivers it,
13341334Charging the sour-faced groom to hie as fast
13351335As lagging fowls before the northern blast.
13361336Speed more than speed but dull and slow she deems;
13371337Extremity still urgeth such extremes."
13391339And blushing on her with a steadfast eye,
13401340Receives the scroll without or yea or no,
13411341And forth with bashful innocence doth hie.
13421342But they whose guilt within their bosoms lie
13431343Imagine every eye beholds their blame,
13441344For Lucrece thought he blushed to see her shame,
13461346Of spirit, life, and bold audacity.
13471347Such harmless creatures have a true respect
13481348To talk in deeds, while others saucily
13491349Promise more speed, but do it leisurely.
13501350Even so this pattern of the worn-out age
13511351Pawned honest looks, but laid no words to gage.
13531353That two red fires in both their faces blazed.
13541354She thought he blushed as knowing Tarquin's lust,
13551355And, blushing with him, wistly on him gazed.
13561356Her earnest eye did make him more amazed.
13571357The more she saw the blood his cheeks replenish,
13581358The more she thought he spied in her some blemish.
13601360And yet the duteous vassal scarce is gone.
13611361The weary time she cannot entertain,
13621362For now 'tis stale to sigh, to weep, and groan;
13631363So woe hath wearied woe, moan tirèd moan,
13641364That she her plaints a little while doth stay,
13651365Pausing for means to mourn some newer way.