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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    My husband is thy friend, for his sake spare me,
    Thy selfe art mightie, for thine own sake leaue me:
    My selfe a weakling, do not then insnare me.
    585Thou look'st not like deceipt, do not deceiue me.
    My sighes like whirlewindes labor hence to heaue (thee.
    If euer man were mou'd with womās mones,
    Be moued with my teares, my sighes, my grones.

    All which together like a troubled Ocean,
    590Beat at thy rockie, and wracke-threatning heart,
    To soften it with their continuall motion:
    For stones dissolu'd to water do conuert.
    O if no harder then a stone thou art,
    Melt at my teares and be compassionate,
    595 Soft pittie enters at an iron gate.

    In TARQVINS likenesse I did entertaine thee,
    Hast thou put on his shape, to do him shame?
    To all the Host of Heauen I complaine me.
    Thou wrongst his honor, woūdst his princely name:
    600Thou art not what thou seem'st, and if the same,
    Thou seem'st not what thou art, a God, a King;
    For kings like Gods should gouerne euery thing.
    E 3
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