1811261The pre
sident whereof in
LVCRECE view,
1262A
ssail'd by night with circum
stances
strong
1263Of pre
sent death, and
shame that might in
sue.
1264By that her death to do her husband wrong,
1265Such danger to re
sistance did belong:
1266 That dying feare through all her bodie
spred,
1267 And who cannot abu
se a bodie dead?
1821268By this milde patience bid faire
LVCRECE speake,
1269To the poore counterfaite of her complayning,
1270My girle, quoth
shee, on what occa
sion breake
1271Tho
se tears frō thee, that downe thy cheeks are raig
-(ning?
1272If thou do
st weepe for griefe of my
su
staining:
1273 Know gentle wench it
small auailes my mood,
1274 If tears could help, mine own would do me good.
1831275But tell me girle, when went (and there
shee
staide,
1276Till after a deepe grone)
TARQVIN from hence,
1277Madame ere I was vp (repli'd the maide,)
1278The more to blame my
sluggard negligence.
1279Yet with the fault I thus farre can di
spence:
1280 My
selfe was
stirring ere the breake of day,
1281 And ere I ro
se was
TARQVIN gone away.
1841282But Lady, if your maide may be
so bold,
1283Shee would reque
st to know your heauine
sse:
1284(O peace quoth
LVCRECE) if it
should be told,
1285The repetition cannot make it le
sse:
1286For more it is, then I can well expre
sse,
1287 And that deepe torture may be cal'd a Hell,
1288 When more is felt then one hath power to tell.
1851289Go get mee hither paper, inke, and pen,
1290Yet
saue that labour, for I haue them heare,
1291(
What
should I
say) one of my husbands men
1292Bid thou be readie, by and by, to beare
1293A letter to my Lord, my Loue, my Deare,
1294 Bid him with
speede prepare to carrie it,
1295 The cau
se craues ha
st, and it will
soone be writ.