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    Not Peer Reviewed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 deepe vexation of his inward soule,
    1780Hath seru'd a dumbe arrest vpon his tongue,
    Who mad that sorrow should his vse controll,
    Or keepe him from heart-easing words so long,
    Begins to talke, but through his lips do throng
    Weake words, so thick come in his poor harts aid,
    1785 That no man could distinguish what he said.

    Yet sometime TARQVIN was pronounced plaine,
    But through his teeth, as if the name he tore,
    This windie tempest, till it blow vp raine,
    Held backe his sorrowes tide, to make it more.
    1790At last it raines, and busie windes giue ore,
    Then sonne and father weep with equall strife,
    Who shuld weep most for daughter or for wife.

    The one doth call her his, the other his,
    Yet neither may possesse the claime they lay.
    1795The father saies, shee's mine, ô mine shee is
    Replies her husband, do not take away
    My sorrowes interest, let no mourner say
    He weepes for her, for shee was onely mine,
    And onelie must be wayl'd by COLATINE.
    O,
    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