61421421As the grim lion fawneth o'er his prey,
422422Sharp hunger by the conquest satisfied,
423423So o'er this sleeping soul doth Tarquin stay,
424424His rage of lust by gazing qualified,
425425Slaked, not suppressed; for, standing by her side,
426426His eye, which late this mutiny restrains,
427427Unto a greater uproar tempts his veins.
62428428And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,
429429Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,
430430In bloody death and ravishment delighting,
431431Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,
432432Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting.
433433Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,
434434Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking.
63435435His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye;
436436His eye commends the leading to his hand;
437437His hand, as proud of such a dignity,
438438Smoking with pride, marched on to make his stand
439439On her bare breast, the heart of all her land,
440440Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,
441441Left their round turrets destitute and pale.
64442442They, mustering to the quiet cabinet
443443Where their dear governess and lady lies,
444444Do tell her she is dreadfully beset
445445And fright her with confusion of their cries.
446446She, much amazed, breaks ope her locked-up eyes,
447447Who, peeping forth this tumult to behold,
448448Are by his flaming torch dimmed and controlled.
65449449Imagine her as one in dead of night
450450From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking,
451451That thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite,
452452Whose grim aspect sets every joint a-shaking.
453453What terror 'tis! But she, in worser taking,
454454From sleep disturbèd, heedfully doth view
455455The sight which makes supposed terror true.