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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    The little birds that tune their mornings ioy,
    Make her mones mad, with their sweet melodie,
    "For mirth doth search the bottome of annoy,
    1110"Sad soules are slaine in merrie companie,
    "Griefe best is pleas'd with griefes societie;
    "True sorrow then is feelinglie suffiz'd,
    "When with like semblance it is simpathiz'd.

    "Tis double death to drowne in ken of shore,
    1115"He ten times pines, that pines beholding food,
    "To see the salue doth make the wound ake more:
    "Great griefe greeues most at that wold do it good;
    "Deepe woes roll forward like a gentle flood,
    Who being stopt, the boūding banks oreflowes,
    1120 Griefe dallied with, nor law, nor limit knowes.

    You mocking Birds (quoth she) your tunes intombe
    Within your hollow swelling feathered breasts,
    And in my hearing be you mute and dumbe,
    My restlesse discord loues no stops nor rests:
    1125"A woefull Hostesse brookes not merrie guests.
    Ralish your nimble notes to pleasing eares,
    "Distres likes dūps whē time is kept with teares.
    Come
    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