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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    What could he see but mightily he noted?
    415What did he note, but strongly he desired?
    What he beheld, on that he firmely doted,
    And in his will his wilfull eye he tyred.
    With more then admiration he admired
    Her azure vaines, her alablaster skinne,
    420 Her corall lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.

    As the grim Lion fawneth ore his pray,
    Sharpe hunger by the conquest satisfied:
    So ore this sleeping soule doth TARQVIN stay,
    His rage of lust by gazing qualified;
    425Slakt, not supprest, for standing by her side,
    His eye which late this mutiny restraines,
    Vnto a greater vprore tempts his vaines.

    And they like stragling slaues for pillage fighting,
    Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,
    430In bloudy death and rauishment delighting;
    Nor childrens tears nor mothers grones respecting,
    Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:
    Anon his beating heart allarum striking,
    Giues the hot charge, & bids thē do their liking.
    D 3
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