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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    For much imaginarie worke was there,
    Conceipt deceitfull, so compact so kinde,
    That for ACHILLES image stood his speare
    1425Grip't in an Armed hand, himselfe behind
    Was left vnseene, saue to the eye of mind,
    A hand, a foote, a face, a leg, a head
    Stood for the whole to be imagined.

    And from the wals of strong besieged TROY,
    1430When their braue hope, bold HECTOR march'd to (field,
    Stood manie Troian mothers sharing ioy,
    To see their youthfull sons bright weapons wield,
    And to their hope they such odde action yeeld,
    That through their light ioy seemed to appeare,
    1435 (Like bright things staind) a kind of heauie feare.

    And from the strond of DARDAN where they fought,
    To SIMOIS reedie bankes the red bloud ran,
    Whose waues to imitate the battaile sought
    With swelling ridges, and their rankes began
    1440To breake vppon the galled shore, and than
    Retire againe, till meeting greater ranckes
    They ioine, & shoot their fome at SIMOIS bancks.
    K 3
    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