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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    Then Loue and Fortune be my Gods, my guide,
    My will is backt with resolution:
    Thoughts are but dreames till their effects be tried,
    The blackest sinne is clear'd with absolution.
    355Against loues fire, feares frost hath dissolution.
    The eye of Heauen is out, and mistie night
    Couers the shame that followes sweet delight.

    This said, his guiltie hand pluckt vp the latch,
    And with his knee the dore he opens wide,
    360The doue sleeps fast that this night Owle will catch.
    Thus treason workes ere traitors be espied.
    Who sees the lurking serpent steppes aside;
    But shee sound sleeping fearing no such thing,
    Lies at the mercie of his mortall sting.

    365Into the chamber wickedlie he stalkes,
    And gazeth on her yet vnstained bed:
    The curtaines being close, about he walkes,
    Rowling his greedie eye-bals in his head.
    By their high treason is his heart mis-led,
    370 Which giues the watch-word to his hand ful soon,
    To draw the clowd that hides the siluer Moon.
    Looke
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