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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    And bubling from her brest, it doth deuide
    In two slow riuers, that the crimson bloud
    Circles her bodie in on euerie side,
    1740Who like a late sack't Iland vastlie stood
    Bare and vnpeopled, in this fearfull flood.
    Some of her bloud still pure and red remain'd,
    And som look'd black, & that false TARQVIN stain'd.

    About the mourning and congealed face
    1745Of that blacke bloud, a watrie rigoll goes,
    Which seemes to weep vpon the tainted place,
    And euer since as pittying LVCRECE woes,
    Corrupted bloud, some waterie token showes,
    And bloud vntainted, still doth red abide,
    1750 Blushing at that which is so putrified.

    Daughter, deare daughter, old LVCRETIVS cries,
    That life was mine which thou hast here depriued,
    If in the childe the fathers image lies,
    Where shall I liue now LVCRECE is vnliued?
    1755Thou wast not to this end from me deriued.
    If children praedecease progenitours,
    We are their ofspring and they none of ours.
    Poore
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