Stanza 62 - Explanation

Original Stanza

And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,
Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,
In bloody death and ravishment delighting,
Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,
Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:
Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,
Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,"

  • "And they": Refers to the rapists, specifically Tarquin's soldiers.
  • "like straggling slaves": This is a simile. They are compared to slaves who have broken ranks and are looting. "Straggling" emphasizes their lack of discipline and focused purpose beyond individual greed.
  • "for pillage fighting": Their motivation is base and self-serving: to steal and destroy. The word "pillage" emphasizes the violent and destructive nature of their actions.

• "Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,"

  • "Obdurate vassals": "Obdurate" means stubborn, unyielding, and hardened in their evil. "Vassals" implies that they are under Tarquin's power. However, their obduracy suggests that their commitment to cruelty goes beyond simple obedience.
  • "fell exploits effecting": "Fell" means cruel, deadly, or destructive. "Exploits" here mean deeds or actions, but the word suggests a glorification that is ironic and disturbing. "Effecting" simply means carrying out or performing. The alliteration in "fell exploits" emphasizes the wickedness of their deeds.

• "In bloody death and ravishment delighting,"

  • "In bloody death and ravishment": This line starkly describes the horror of their actions: murder and rape. "Ravishment" is a euphemism for rape but still communicates the brutal violation.
  • "delighting": This is the most chilling word in the line. It reveals that they find pleasure and enjoyment in inflicting pain and suffering.

• "Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,"

  • "Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans": This highlights their complete lack of empathy and moral compass. They are unmoved by the suffering of the most vulnerable. This is an example of synecdoche, where "children's tears" and "mother's groans" represent the wider suffering of the innocent.
  • "respecting": They show no regard, consideration, or pity for the consequences of their actions.

• "Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:"

  • "Swell in their pride": Their confidence and arrogance grow as they anticipate more opportunities for violence and destruction. "Swell" suggests a repulsive inflation of ego.
  • "the onset still expecting": They are eager and waiting for the command to attack and continue their atrocities. "Onset" suggests the beginning of an even greater wave of violence.

• "Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,"

  • "Anon his beating heart": "Anon" means soon or immediately. "His" refers to Tarquin. "Beating heart" is an expression of the building tension and sexual arousal.
  • "alarum striking": This is a metaphor. His heart is compared to an "alarum" or a signal for battle, urging him to proceed with his evil plan. The image is forceful and violent.

• "Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking."

  • "Gives the hot charge": He gives the order to attack with intense passion and eagerness. "Hot" suggests lust and uncontrolled desire. "Charge" here is a forceful command.
  • "and bids them do their liking": He essentially gives them permission to act on their darkest desires. This is a chillingly permissive statement, acknowledging and encouraging their brutality.

Overall Meaning:

This stanza depicts the savage and uncontrolled nature of Tarquin's soldiers. It emphasizes their lack of discipline, their enjoyment of violence and destruction, and their complete disregard for human suffering. They are driven by base instincts and a thirst for power and pleasure, fueled by Tarquin's desires. The imagery is violent and unsettling, conveying the horror and brutality of the impending rape. The stanza sets a stage of heightened intensity and anticipation for the tragic event.

Literary Devices:

• Simile: "like straggling slaves for pillage fighting"
• Alliteration: "fell exploits"
• Metaphor: "alarum striking" (heart as a battle signal)
• Synecdoche: "children's tears" and "mother's groans" representing broader suffering
• Euphemism: "Ravishment" for rape
• Imagery: The stanza is filled with violent and disturbing imagery.

Shakespeare uses these devices to create a vivid and disturbing picture of the rapists' depravity and the impending tragedy. The stanza effectively conveys the brutal atmosphere and the psychological state of both the attackers and the victim.