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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    750They thinke not but that euerie eye can see,
    The same disgrace which they themselues behold:
    And therefore would they still in darkenesse be,
    To haue their vnseene sinne remaine vntold.
    For they their guilt with weeping will vnfold,
    755 And graue like water that doth eate in steele,
    Vppon my cheeks, what helpelesse shame I feele.

    Here shee exclaimes against repose and rest,
    And bids her eyes hereafter still be blinde,
    Shee wakes her heart by beating on her brest,
    760And bids it leape from thence, where it maie finde
    Some purer chest, to close so pure a minde.
    Franticke with griefe thus breaths shee forth her spite,
    Against the vnseene secrecie of night.

    O comfort-killing night, image of Hell,
    765Dim register, and notarie of shame,
    Blacke stage for tragedies, and murthers fell,
    Vast sin-concealing Chaos, nourse of blame.
    Blinde muffled bawd, darke harber for defame,
    Grim caue of death, whispring conspirator,
    770 With close-tong'd treason & the rauisher.
    F 3
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