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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    This plot of death when sadlie shee had layd,
    And wip't the brinish pearle from her bright eies,
    With vntun'd tongue shee hoarslie cals her mayd,
    1215Whose swift obedience to her mistresse hies.
    "For fleet-wing'd duetie with thoghts feathers flies,
    Poore LVCRECE cheeks vnto her maid seem so,
    As winter meads when sun doth melt their snow.

    Her mistresse shee doth giue demure good morrow,
    1220With soft slow-tongue, true marke of modestie,
    And sorts a sad looke to her Ladies sorrow,
    (For why her face wore sorrowes liuerie.)
    But durst not aske of her audaciouslie,
    Why her two suns were clowd ecclipsed so,
    1225 Nor why her faire cheeks ouer-washt with woe.

    But as the earth doth weepe the Sun being set,
    Each flowre moistned like a melting eye:
    Euen so the maid with swelling drops gan wet
    Her circled eien inforst, by simpathie
    1230Of those faire Suns set in her mistresse skie,
    Who in a salt wau'd Ocean quench their light,
    Which makes the maid weep like the dewy night.
    I 2
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