Stanza 265 - Explanation

Original Stanza

When they had sworn to this advised doom,
They did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thence,
To show her bleeding body thorough Rome,
And so to publish Tarquin’s foul offence;
Which being done with speedy diligence,
The Romans plausibly did give consent
To Tarquin’s everlasting banishment.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Let's break down this stanza from Shakespeare's "The Rape of Lucrece":

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "When they had sworn to this advised doom,"
  • "When they had sworn": Referring to the oath taken by Lucrece's family and friends.
  • "to this advised doom": This is the plan they had come up with after discussing what to do, it's a plan they thoughtfully considered. "Doom" here means a decision, or a planned fate.
• "They did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thence,"
  • "They did conclude": They decided.
  • "to bear dead Lucrece thence": To carry the body of dead Lucrece away from where it was. "Thence" means from that place.
• "To show her bleeding body thorough Rome,"
  • "To show her bleeding body": Their purpose was to display her corpse that was still bleeding.
  • "thorough Rome": Throughout Rome. (Note the archaic spelling of "through.")
• "And so to publish Tarquin’s foul offence;"
  • "And so to publish": With the purpose of making public.
  • "Tarquin's foul offence": Tarquin's wicked deed. The rape of Lucrece.
• "Which being done with speedy diligence,"
  • "Which being done": After they carried out their plan.
  • "with speedy diligence": Quickly and efficiently.
• "The Romans plausibly did give consent"
  • "The Romans plausibly": The people of Rome with convincing arguments (from the plan they made).
  • "did give consent": Agreed to something.
• "To Tarquin’s everlasting banishment."
  • "To Tarquin's everlasting banishment": They consented to Tarquin being banished forever.

Literary Devices:

• Alliteration: "speedy diligence" - the repetition of the "s" sound.
• Irony: The irony lies in the fact that the initial act of violence (Tarquin's rape) leads to a chain of events, including the suicide, that result in a positive outcome (the banishment of the tyrant) for Rome.
• Figurative Language: The stanza's effectiveness comes in its ability to represent the action of the poem, the events of the rape of Lucrece and its aftermath, which sets the scene for the exile of Tarquin, and the end of the Roman monarchy.

Overall Meaning:

This stanza describes the immediate aftermath of Lucrece's suicide and the plan her family and friends devise to avenge her. They decide to:

1. Carry Lucrece's body through Rome.
2. Publicly display her wounds to reveal Tarquin's crime.

Their actions, presented with speed and efficiency, ultimately led to the Romans agreeing to banish Tarquin. This stanza is a turning point, setting the stage for the end of Tarquin's reign and the eventual establishment of the Roman Republic. It encapsulates the plan, its execution, and the resulting consequence: the removal of the tyrant.