Stanza 60 - Explanation

Original Stanza

What could he see but mightily he noted?
What did he note but strongly he desired?
What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,
And in his will his wilful eye he tired.
With more than admiration he admired
Her azure veins, her alabaster skin,
Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "What could he see but mightily he noted?"

  • What could he see... - The opening asks what else could Tarquin see other than things to make note of?
  • ...but mightily he noted? - He registered every detail with intense scrutiny and importance. The word "mightily" emphasizes the strength of his focus.
  • Literary Device: Rhetorical Question, emphasizing Tarquin's intense observation.

• "What did he note but strongly he desired?"

  • What did he note... - Following on from the previous line, what did Tarquin observe?
  • ...but strongly he desired? - Whatever he observed inspired intense desire. "Strongly" indicates the power of his lust.
  • Literary Device: Rhetorical Question, building on the previous line and emphasizing the direct link between Tarquin's observation and his desire.

• "What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,"

  • What he beheld... - Whatever Tarquin looked upon...
  • ...on that he firmly doted, - he fixed his attention and affection (in a twisted way) upon it. "Doted" has an ironic usage here because it is usually connected to a positive relationship and Tarquin is using it in a negative sense.
  • Literary Device: Repetition of the "What..." structure. The alliteration of "firmly" and "doted" adds emphasis.

• "And in his will his wilful eye he tired."

  • And in his will... - He forced himself (through his "will"). This highlights Tarquin's conscious choice to indulge in his lust.
  • ...his wilful eye he tired. - He exhausted his eye, wearing it out. The repetition of the word "will" and "wilful" emphasizes Tarquin's determination and the intentional nature of his actions.
  • Literary Device: Alliteration ("will," "wilful"), Repetition, Paradox (the eye is "tired" by being active, but also symbolically "tired" in the sense of being jaded by lust).

• "With more than admiration he admired"

  • With more than admiration... - Tarquin's gaze transcended mere appreciation.
  • ...he admired - He was deeply and intensely fascinated by Lucrece's beauty.
  • Literary Device: Paradox/Oxymoron. It highlights the perversion of admiration into something darker and more dangerous. The repetition of "admired" emphasizes the intensity of his observation.

• "Her azure veins, her alabaster skin,"

  • Her azure veins... - This begins the specific detailing of Lucrece's beauty. "Azure" (blue) veins suggest delicacy and purity.
  • ...her alabaster skin, - "Alabaster" is a white, translucent stone, used to describe her pure, smooth, pale skin.
  • Literary Device: Metaphor (skin compared to alabaster), Imagery (visual).

• "Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin."

  • Her coral lips... - Her lips are described as "coral," suggesting their vibrant red color.
  • ...her snow-white dimpled chin. - Her chin is "snow-white," continuing the imagery of purity, and "dimpled" adds to her innocent beauty.
  • Literary Device: Metaphor (lips compared to coral), Imagery (visual).

Overall Meaning:

Stanza 60 is a powerful depiction of Tarquin's escalating lust and his objectification of Lucrece. It traces the progression of his desire from simple observation to an overwhelming, almost obsessive fixation. The stanza highlights that his actions are not simply based on natural attraction but are fueled by a deliberate and forceful act of will. He is intentionally indulging in and feeding his lust. The meticulous detailing of Lucrece's physical attributes serves to dehumanize her, reducing her to a collection of beautiful, yet ultimately vulnerable, features. The contrasting imagery of purity and implied violation creates a sense of foreboding and sets the stage for the tragic events to follow. The stanza emphasizes the moral corruption and the active, conscious decision-making involved in Tarquin's villainy.