It shall be raging mad, and silly mild, 'It shall suspect where is no cause of fear; And most deceiving when it seems most just; Perverse it shall be, where it shows most toward, Put fear to valour, courage to the coward. 'It shall be cause of war and dire events, Sith in his prime Death doth my love destroy, By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd 1170 THE RAPE OF LUCRECE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD. The love I dedicate to your lordship is without end; whereof this pamphlet, without beginning, is but a superfluous moiety. The warrant I have of your honourable disposition, not the worth of my untutored lines, makes it assured of acceptance. What I have done is yours; what I have to do is yours; being part in all I have, devoted yours. Were my worth greater, my duty would show greater; meantime, as is, it is bound to your lordship, to whom I wish long life, still lengthened with all happiness. Your lordship's in all duty, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE ARGUMENT. LUCIUS TARQUINIUS, for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus, after he had caused his own father-in-law Servius Tullius to be cruelly murdered, and, contrary to the Roman laws and customs, not requiring staying for the people's suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom, went, accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea. During which siege the principal men of the army meeting one evening at the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses after supper every one commended the virtues of his own wife: among whom Collatinus extolled the incomparabe chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humour they all posted to Rome; and intending, by their secret and sudden arrival, to make trial of that which every one had before avouched, only Collatins finds his wife, though it were late in the night, spinning amongst her maids: the other ladies were found dancing and revelling, or in several disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius being inflamed with Lucrece' beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present, departed with the rest back to the camp; from whence shortly after privily withdrew himself, and was, according to his estate, royally entertained and lodged Lucrece at Collatium. The same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber, violently ravished her and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in this lamentable plight, hastily dispatcheth messenger, one to Rome for her father, another to the camp for Collatine. They came, the one accompanied w Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius; and finding Lucrece attired in mourning habit, demandel the cause of her sorrow. She, first taking an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the actor, and whe manner of his dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which done, with one consent they al vowed to root out the whole hated family of the Tarquins; and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brute acquainted the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the king: wherewith the people were so moved, that with one consent and a general acclans tion the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from kings to consuls. FROM the besieged Ardea all in post, And girdle with embracing flames the waist Haply that name of chaste unhappily set To praise the clear unmatched red and white With pure aspects did him peculiar duties. For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent, lent 10 In the possession of his beauteous mate; Reckoning his fortune at such high-proud rate, ❘ In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses; That kings might be espoused to more fame, O happiness enjoy'd but of a few! Beauty itself doth of itself persuade Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sovereignty 30 40 His high-pitch'd thoughts, that meaner men should vaunt That golden hap which their superiors want. But some untimely thought did instigate Where, lest between them both it should be kill'd, O! rash false heat, wrapp'd in repentant cold, fame: When virtue bragg'd, beauty would blush for shame; When beauty boasted blushes, in despite Virtue would stain that or with silver white. But beauty, in that white intituled, From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field; 60 Then virtue claims from beauty beauty's red, He stories to her ears her husband's fame, success. Far from the purpose of his coming thither, Teaching them thus to use it in the fight, 110 white. Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth And every one to rest themselves betake, Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds, that wake. ------ As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving Here pale with fear he doth premeditatė The dangers of his loathsome enterprise, And in his inward mind he doth debate staining: 130 Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining; And when great treasure is the meed propos'd, Though death be adjunct, there's no death suppos'd. Then looking scornfully, he doth despise His naked armour of still-slaughter'd lust, And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust: 'Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not The aim of all is but to nurse the life As life for honour in fell battle's rage; That spots and stains love's modest snow. white weed. O shame to knighthood and to shining arms! O foul dishonour to my household's grave! O impious act, including all foul harms! A martial man to be soft fancy's slave! True valour still a true respect should have; Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in my face. Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive, cost The death of all, and all together lost. 150 So that in venturing ill we leave to be Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make, When he himself himself confounds, betrays To slanderous tongues and wretched hateful days? Now stole upon the time the dead of night, When heavy sleep had clos'd up mortal eyes; No comfortable star did lend his light, 161 No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding And be an eye-sore in my golden coat; While lust and murder wake to stain and kill. deed? Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints And now this lustful lord leap'd from his bed, shake, 170 bleed? Mine eyes forgo their light, my false heari The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed And extreme fear can neither fight nor fis, But coward-like with trembling terror die 'Had Collatinus kill'd my son or sire, end. And as their captain, so their pride doth grow, Shameful it is; ay, if the fact be known: Thus, graceless, holds he disputation Quoth he, 'She took me kindly by the hand, Where her beloved Collatinus lies. O! how her fear did make her colour rise: 'And how her hand, in my hand being lock'd, 260 Why hunt I then for colour or excuses ? dreadeth: Affection is my captain, and he leadeth; 270 300 To add a more rejoicing to the prime, The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands.' Now is he come unto the chamber door, 340 |