41281281As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear
282282Is almost choked by unresisted lust.
283283Away he steals with open list'ning ear,
284284Full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust;
285285Both which, as servitors to the unjust,
286286So cross him with their opposite persuasion
287287That now he vows a league, and now invasion.
42288288Within his thought her heavenly image sits,
289289And in the self-same seat sits Collatine.
290290That eye which looks on her confounds his wits;
291291That eye which him beholds, as more divine,
292292Unto a view so false will not incline,
293293But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart,
294294Which once corrupted takes the worser part,
43295295And therein heartens up his servile powers,
296296Who, flattered by their leader's jocund show,
297297Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours;
298298And as their captain, so their pride doth grow,
299299Paying more slavish tribute than they owe.
300300By reprobate desire thus madly led,
301301The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed.
44302302The locks between her chamber and his will,
303303Each one by him enforced, retires his ward;
304304But, as they open, they all rate his ill,
305305Which drives the creeping thief to some regard.
306306The threshold grates the door to have him heard;
307307Night-wand'ring weasels shriek to see him there;
308308They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.
45309309As each unwilling portal yields him way,
310310Through little vents and crannies of the place,
311311The wind wars with his torch to make him stay
312312And blows the smoke of it into his face,
313313Extinguishing his conduct in this case;
314314But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch,
315315Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch.