Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)
  • Editor: Hardy M. Cook

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-411-0

    Copyright Hardy M. Cook. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardy M. Cook
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Lucrece (Quarto, 1594)

    THE RAPE OF LVCRECE.

    120For then is Tarquine brought vnto his bed,
    Intending wearinesse with heauie sprite:
    For after supper long he questioned,
    With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night,
    Now leaden slumber with liues strength doth fight,
    125 And euerie one to rest themselues betake,
    Saue theeues, and cares, and troubled minds that (wake.

    As one of which doth Tarquin lie reuoluing
    The sundrie dangers of his wils obtaining:
    Yet euer to obtaine his will resoluing.
    130Though weake-built hopes perswade him to abstai-(ning
    Dispaire to gaine doth traffique oft for gaining,
    And when great treasure is the meede proposed,
    Though death be adiūct, ther's no death supposed.

    Those that much couet are with gaine so fond,
    135That what they haue not, that which they possesse
    They scatter and vnloose it from their bond,
    And so by hoping more they haue but lesse,
    Or gaining more, the profite of excesse
    Is but to surfet, and such griefes sustaine,
    140 That they proue bāckrout in this poore rich gain.
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC