71491I
see what cro
sses my attempt will bring,
492I know what thornes the growing ro
se defends,
493I thinke the honie garded with a
sting,
494All this before-hand coun
sell comprehends.
495But
Will is deafe, and hears no heedfull friends,
496 Onely he hath an eye to gaze on Beautie,
497 And dotes on what he looks, gain
st law or duety.
72498I haue debated euen in my
soule,
499What wrong, what
shame, what
sorrow I
shal breed,
500But nothing can a
ffe
ctions cour
se controull,
501Or
stop the headlong furie of his
speed.
502I know repentant teares in
sewe the deed,
503 Reproch, di
sdaine, and deadly enmity,
504 Yet
striue I to embrace mine infamy.
73505This
said, hee
shakes aloft his Romaine blade,
506Which like a Faulcon towring in the skies,
507Cowcheth the fowle below with his wings
shade,
508Who
se crooked beake threats, if he mount he dies.
509So vnder his in
sulting Fauchion lies
510 Harmele
sse
LVCRETIA marking what he tels,
511 With trembling feare: as fowl hear Faulcōs bels.
74512LVCRECE, quoth he, this night I mu
st enioy thee,
513If thou deny, then force mu
st worke my way:
514For in thy bed I purpo
se to de
stroie thee.
515That done,
some worthle
sse
slaue of thine ile
slay.
516To kill thine Honour with thy liues decaie.
517 And in thy dead armes do I meane to place him,
518 Swearing I
slue him
seeing thee imbrace him.
75519So thy
suruiuing husband
shall remaine
520The
scornefull marke of euerie open eye,
521Thy kin
smen hang their heads at this di
sdaine,
522Thy i
ssue blur'd with namele
sse ba
stardie;
523And thou the author of their obloquie,
524 Shalt haue thy tre
spa
sse cited vp in rimes,
525 And
sung by children in
succeeding times.