2461716Here with a sigh as if her heart would breake,

1717Shee throwes forth TARQVINS name: he he, she saies,

1718But more then he, her poore tong could not speake,

1719Till after manie accents and delaies,

1720Vntimelie breathings, sicke and short assaies,

1721 Shee vtters this, he he faire Lords, tis he

1722 That guides this hand to giue this wound to me.

2471723Euen here she sheathed in her harmlesse breast

1724A harmfull knife, that thence her soule vnsheathed,

1725That blow did baile it from the deepe vnrest

1726Of that polluted prison, where it breathed:

1727Her contrite sighes vnto the clouds bequeathed

1728 Her winged sprite, & through her woūds doth flie

1729 Liues lasting date, from cancel'd destinie.

2481730Stone still, astonisht with this deadlie deed,

1731Stood COLATINE, and all his Lordly crew,

1732Till LVCRECE Father that beholds her bleed,

1733Himselfe, on her selfe-slaughtred bodie threw,

1734And from the purple fountaine BRVTVS drew

1735 The murdrous knife, and as it left the place,

1736 Her blood in poore reuenge, held it in chase.

2491737And bubling from her brest, it doth deuide

1738In two slow riuers, that the crimson bloud

1739Circles her bodie in on euerie side,

1740Who like a late sack't Iland vastlie stood

1741Bare and vnpeopled, in this fearfull flood.

1742 Some of her bloud still pure and red remain'd,

1743 And som look'd black, & that false TARQVIN stain'd.

2501744About the mourning and congealed face

1745Of that blacke bloud, a watrie rigoll goes,

1746Which seemes to weep vpon the tainted place,

1747And euer since as pittying LVCRECE woes,

1748Corrupted bloud, some waterie token showes,

1749 And bloud vntainted, still doth red abide,

1750 Blushing at that which is so putrified.