Stanza 1lines 1-7 Overview Top

The Rape of Lucrece — All Stanzas

William Shakespeare · 265 stanzas · 1855 lines, complete on one page.

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Stanza 1 explanation →
  1. 1FROM the besieged Ardea all in post,
  2. 2Borne by the trustless wings of false desire,
  3. 3Lust-breathed Tarquin leaves the Roman host,
  4. 4And to Collatium bears the lightless fire
  5. 5Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire
  6. 6And girdle with embracing flames the waist
  7. 7Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece the chaste.
Stanza 2 explanation →
  1. 8Haply that name of 'chaste' unhappily set
  2. 9This bateless edge on his keen appetite;
  3. 10When Collatine unwisely did not let
  4. 11To praise the clear unmatched red and white
  5. 12Which triumph'd in that sky of his delight,
  6. 13Where mortal stars, as bright as heaven's beauties,
  7. 14With pure aspects did him peculiar duties.
Stanza 3 explanation →
  1. 15For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent,
  2. 16Unlock'd the treasure of his happy state;
  3. 17What priceless wealth the heavens had him lent
  4. 18In the possession of his beauteous mate;
  5. 19Reckoning his fortune at such high-proud rate,
  6. 20That kings might be espoused to more fame,
  7. 21But king nor peer to such a peerless dame.
Stanza 4 explanation →
  1. 22O happiness enjoy'd but of a few!
  2. 23And, if possess'd, as soon decay'd and done
  3. 24As is the morning's silver-melting dew
  4. 25Against the golden splendor of the sun!
  5. 26An expired date, cancell'd ere well begun:
  6. 27Honour and beauty, in the owner's arms,
  7. 28Are weakly fortress'd from a world of harms.
Stanza 5 explanation →
  1. 29Beauty itself doth of itself persuade
  2. 30The eyes of men without an orator;
  3. 31What needeth then apologies be made,
  4. 32To set forth that which is so singular?
  5. 33Or why is Collatine the publisher
  6. 34Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown
  7. 35From thievish ears, because it is his own?
Stanza 6 explanation →
  1. 36Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sovereignty
  2. 37Suggested this proud issue of a king;
  3. 38For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be:
  4. 39Perchance that envy of so rich a thing,
  5. 40Braving compare, disdainfully did sting
  6. 41His high-pitch'd thoughts, that meaner men should vaunt
  7. 42That golden hap which their superiors want.
Stanza 7 explanation →
  1. 43But some untimely thought did instigate
  2. 44His all-too-timeless speed, if none of those:
  3. 45His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state,
  4. 46Neglected all, with swift intent he goes
  5. 47To quench the coal which in his liver glows.
  6. 48O rash false heat, wrapp'd in repentant cold,
  7. 49Thy hasty spring still blasts, and ne'er grows old!
Stanza 8 explanation →
  1. 50When at Collatium this false lord arrived,
  2. 51Well was he welcomed by the Roman dame,
  3. 52Within whose face beauty and virtue strived
  4. 53Which of them both should underprop her fame:
  5. 54When virtue bragg'd, beauty would blush for shame;
  6. 55When beauty boasted blushes, in despite
  7. 56Virtue would stain that o'er with silver white.
Stanza 9 explanation →
  1. 57But beauty, in that white intituled,
  2. 58From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field:
  3. 59Then virtue claims from beauty beauty's red,
  4. 60Which virtue gave the golden age to gild
  5. 61Their silver cheeks, and call'd it then their shield;
  6. 62Teaching them thus to use it in the fight,
  7. 63When shame assail'd, the red should fence the white.
Stanza 10 explanation →
  1. 64This heraldry in Lucrece' face was seen,
  2. 65Argued by beauty's red and virtue's white
  3. 66Of either's colour was the other queen,
  4. 67Proving from world's minority their right:
  5. 68Yet their ambition makes them still to fight;
  6. 69The sovereignty of either being so great,
  7. 70That oft they interchange each other's seat.
Stanza 11 explanation →
  1. 71Their silent war of lilies and of roses,
  2. 72Which Tarquin view'd in her fair face's field,
  3. 73In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses;
  4. 74Where, lest between them both it should be kill'd,
  5. 75The coward captive vanquished doth yield
  6. 76To those two armies that would let him go,
  7. 77Rather than triumph in so false a foe.
Stanza 12 explanation →
  1. 78Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue,--
  2. 79The niggard prodigal that praised her so,--
  3. 80In that high task hath done her beauty wrong,
  4. 81Which far exceeds his barren skill to show:
  5. 82Therefore that praise which Collatine doth owe
  6. 83Enchanted Tarquin answers with surmise,
  7. 84In silent wonder of still-gazing eyes.
Stanza 13 explanation →
  1. 85This earthly saint, adored by this devil,
  2. 86Little suspecteth the false worshipper;
  3. 87For unstain'd thoughts do seldom dream on evil;
  4. 88Birds never limed no secret bushes fear:
  5. 89So guiltless she securely gives good cheer
  6. 90And reverend welcome to her princely guest,
  7. 91Whose inward ill no outward harm express'd:
Stanza 14 explanation →
  1. 92For that he colour'd with his high estate,
  2. 93Hiding base sin in plaits of majesty;
  3. 94That nothing in him seem'd inordinate,
  4. 95Save something too much wonder of his eye,
  5. 96Which, having all, all could not satisfy;
  6. 97But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store,
  7. 98That, cloy'd with much, he pineth still for more.
Stanza 15 explanation →
  1. 99But she, that never coped with stranger eyes,
  2. 100Could pick no meaning from their parling looks,
  3. 101Nor read the subtle-shining secrecies
  4. 102Writ in the glassy margents of such books:
  5. 103She touch'd no unknown baits, nor fear'd no hooks;
  6. 104Nor could she moralize his wanton sight,
  7. 105More than his eyes were open'd to the light.
Stanza 16 explanation →
  1. 106He stories to her ears her husband's fame,
  2. 107Won in the fields of fruitful Italy;
  3. 108And decks with praises Collatine's high name,
  4. 109Made glorious by his manly chivalry
  5. 110With bruised arms and wreaths of victory:
  6. 111Her joy with heaved-up hand she doth express,
  7. 112And, wordless, so greets heaven for his success.
Stanza 17 explanation →
  1. 113Far from the purpose of his coming hither,
  2. 114He makes excuses for his being there:
  3. 115No cloudy show of stormy blustering weather
  4. 116Doth yet in his fair welkin once appear;
  5. 117Till sable Night, mother of Dread and Fear,
  6. 118Upon the world dim darkness doth display,
  7. 119And in her vaulty prison stows the Day.
Stanza 18 explanation →
  1. 120For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed,
  2. 121Intending weariness with heavy spright;
  3. 122For, after supper, long he questioned
  4. 123With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night:
  5. 124Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth fight;
  6. 125And every one to rest themselves betake,
  7. 126Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds, that wake.
Stanza 19 explanation →
  1. 127As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving
  2. 128The sundry dangers of his will's obtaining;
  3. 129Yet ever to obtain his will resolving,
  4. 130Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining:
  5. 131Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining;
  6. 132And when great treasure is the meed proposed,
  7. 133Though death be adjunct, there's no death supposed.
Stanza 20 explanation →
  1. 134Those that much covet are with gain so fond,
  2. 135For what they have not, that which they possess
  3. 136They scatter and unloose it from their bond,
  4. 137And so, by hoping more, they have but less;
  5. 138Or, gaining more, the profit of excess
  6. 139Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain,
  7. 140That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain.
Stanza 21 explanation →
  1. 141The aim of all is but to nurse the life
  2. 142With honour, wealth, and ease, in waning age;
  3. 143And in this aim there is such thwarting strife,
  4. 144That one for all, or all for one we gage;
  5. 145As life for honour in fell battle's rage;
  6. 146Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth cost
  7. 147The death of all, and all together lost.
Stanza 22 explanation →
  1. 148So that in venturing ill we leave to be
  2. 149The things we are for that which we expect;
  3. 150And this ambitious foul infirmity,
  4. 151In having much, torments us with defect
  5. 152Of that we have: so then we do neglect
  6. 153The thing we have; and, all for want of wit,
  7. 154Make something nothing by augmenting it.
Stanza 23 explanation →
  1. 155Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make,
  2. 156Pawning his honour to obtain his lust;
  3. 157And for himself himself be must forsake:
  4. 158Then where is truth, if there be no self-trust?
  5. 159When shall he think to find a stranger just,
  6. 160When he himself himself confounds, betrays
  7. 161To slanderous tongues and wretched hateful days?
Stanza 24 explanation →
  1. 162Now stole upon the time the dead of night,
  2. 163When heavy sleep had closed up mortal eyes:
  3. 164No comfortable star did lend his light,
  4. 165No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding cries;
  5. 166Now serves the season that they may surprise
  6. 167The silly lambs: pure thoughts are dead and still,
  7. 168While lust and murder wake to stain and kill.
Stanza 25 explanation →
  1. 169And now this lustful lord leap'd from his bed,
  2. 170Throwing his mantle rudely o'er his arm;
  3. 171Is madly toss'd between desire and dread;
  4. 172Th' one sweetly flatters, th' other feareth harm;
  5. 173But honest fear, bewitch'd with lust's foul charm,
  6. 174Doth too too oft betake him to retire,
  7. 175Beaten away by brain-sick rude desire.
Stanza 26 explanation →
  1. 176His falchion on a flint he softly smiteth,
  2. 177That from the cold stone sparks of fire do fly;
  3. 178Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,
  4. 179Which must be lode-star to his lustful eye;
  5. 180And to the flame thus speaks advisedly,
  6. 181'As from this cold flint I enforced this fire,
  7. 182So Lucrece must I force to my desire.'
Stanza 27 explanation →
  1. 183Here pale with fear he doth premeditate
  2. 184The dangers of his loathsome enterprise,
  3. 185And in his inward mind he doth debate
  4. 186What following sorrow may on this arise:
  5. 187Then looking scornfully, he doth despise
  6. 188His naked armour of still-slaughter'd lust,
  7. 189And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust:
Stanza 28 explanation →
  1. 190'Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not
  2. 191To darken her whose light excelleth thine:
  3. 192And die, unhallow'd thoughts, before you blot
  4. 193With your uncleanness that which is divine;
  5. 194Offer pure incense to so pure a shrine:
  6. 195Let fair humanity abhor the deed
  7. 196That spots and stains love's modest snow-white weed.
Stanza 29 explanation →
  1. 197'O shame to knighthood and to shining arms!
  2. 198O foul dishonour to my household's grave!
  3. 199O impious act, including all foul harms!
  4. 200A martial man to be soft fancy's slave!
  5. 201True valour still a true respect should have;
  6. 202Then my digression is so vile, so base,
  7. 203That it will live engraven in my face.
Stanza 30 explanation →
  1. 204'Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive,
  2. 205And be an eye-sore in my golden coat;
  3. 206Some loathsome dash the herald will contrive,
  4. 207To cipher me how fondly I did dote;
  5. 208That my posterity, shamed with the note
  6. 209Shall curse my bones, and hold it for no sin
  7. 210To wish that I their father had not bin.
Stanza 31 explanation →
  1. 211'What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?
  2. 212A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.
  3. 213Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?
  4. 214Or sells eternity to get a toy?
  5. 215For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
  6. 216Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
  7. 217Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?
Stanza 32 explanation →
  1. 218'If Collatinus dream of my intent,
  2. 219Will he not wake, and in a desperate rage
  3. 220Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent?
  4. 221This siege that hath engirt his marriage,
  5. 222This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,
  6. 223This dying virtue, this surviving shame,
  7. 224Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame?
Stanza 33 explanation →
  1. 225'O, what excuse can my invention make,
  2. 226When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed?
  3. 227Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake,
  4. 228Mine eyes forego their light, my false heart bleed?
  5. 229The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed;
  6. 230And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly,
  7. 231But coward-like with trembling terror die.
Stanza 34 explanation →
  1. 232'Had Collatinus kill'd my son or sire,
  2. 233Or lain in ambush to betray my life,
  3. 234Or were he not my dear friend, this desire
  4. 235Might have excuse to work upon his wife,
  5. 236As in revenge or quittal of such strife:
  6. 237But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,
  7. 238The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.
Stanza 35 explanation →
  1. 239'Shameful it is; ay, if the fact be known:
  2. 240Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving:
  3. 241I'll beg her love; but she is not her own:
  4. 242The worst is but denial and reproving:
  5. 243My will is strong, past reason's weak removing.
  6. 244Who fears a sentence or an old man's saw
  7. 245Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.'
Stanza 36 explanation →
  1. 246Thus, graceless, holds he disputation
  2. 247'Tween frozen conscience and hot-burning will,
  3. 248And with good thoughts make dispensation,
  4. 249Urging the worser sense for vantage still;
  5. 250Which in a moment doth confound and kill
  6. 251All pure effects, and doth so far proceed,
  7. 252That what is vile shows like a virtuous deed.
Stanza 37 explanation →
  1. 253Quoth he, 'She took me kindly by the hand,
  2. 254And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes,
  3. 255Fearing some hard news from the warlike band,
  4. 256Where her beloved Collatinus lies.
  5. 257O, how her fear did make her colour rise!
  6. 258First red as roses that on lawn we lay,
  7. 259Then white as lawn, the roses took away.
Stanza 38 explanation →
  1. 260'And how her hand, in my hand being lock'd
  2. 261Forced it to tremble with her loyal fear!
  3. 262Which struck her sad, and then it faster rock'd,
  4. 263Until her husband's welfare she did hear;
  5. 264Whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer,
  6. 265That had Narcissus seen her as she stood,
  7. 266Self-love had never drown'd him in the flood.
Stanza 39 explanation →
  1. 267'Why hunt I then for colour or excuses?
  2. 268All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth;
  3. 269Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;
  4. 270Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth:
  5. 271Affection is my captain, and he leadeth;
  6. 272And when his gaudy banner is display'd,
  7. 273The coward fights and will not be dismay'd.
Stanza 40 explanation →
  1. 274'Then, childish fear, avaunt! debating, die!
  2. 275Respect and reason, wait on wrinkled age!
  3. 276My heart shall never countermand mine eye:
  4. 277Sad pause and deep regard beseem the sage;
  5. 278My part is youth, and beats these from the stage:
  6. 279Desire my pilot is, beauty my prize;
  7. 280Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?'
Stanza 41 explanation →
  1. 281As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear
  2. 282Is almost choked by unresisted lust.
  3. 283Away he steals with open listening ear,
  4. 284Full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust;
  5. 285Both which, as servitors to the unjust,
  6. 286So cross him with their opposite persuasion,
  7. 287That now he vows a league, and now invasion.
Stanza 42 explanation →
  1. 288Within his thought her heavenly image sits,
  2. 289And in the self-same seat sits Collatine:
  3. 290That eye which looks on her confounds his wits;
  4. 291That eye which him beholds, as more divine,
  5. 292Unto a view so false will not incline;
  6. 293But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart,
  7. 294Which once corrupted takes the worser part;
Stanza 43 explanation →
  1. 295And therein heartens up his servile powers,
  2. 296Who, flatter'd by their leader's jocund show,
  3. 297Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours;
  4. 298And as their captain, so their pride doth grow,
  5. 299Paying more slavish tribute than they owe.
  6. 300By reprobate desire thus madly led,
  7. 301The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed.
Stanza 44 explanation →
  1. 302The locks between her chamber and his will,
  2. 303Each one by him enforced, retires his ward;
  3. 304But, as they open, they all rate his ill,
  4. 305Which drives the creeping thief to some regard:
  5. 306The threshold grates the door to have him heard;
  6. 307Night-wandering weasels shriek to see him there;
  7. 308They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.
Stanza 45 explanation →
  1. 309As each unwilling portal yields him way,
  2. 310Through little vents and crannies of the place
  3. 311The wind wars with his torch to make him stay,
  4. 312And blows the smoke of it into his face,
  5. 313Extinguishing his conduct in this case;
  6. 314But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch,
  7. 315Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch:
Stanza 46 explanation →
  1. 316And being lighted, by the light he spies
  2. 317Lucretia's glove, wherein her needle sticks:
  3. 318He takes it from the rushes where it lies,
  4. 319And griping it, the needle his finger pricks;
  5. 320As who should say 'This glove to wanton tricks
  6. 321Is not inured; return again in haste;
  7. 322Thou see'st our mistress' ornaments are chaste.'
Stanza 47 explanation →
  1. 323But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him;
  2. 324He in the worst sense construes their denial:
  3. 325The doors, the wind, the glove, that did delay him,
  4. 326He takes for accidental things of trial;
  5. 327Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial,
  6. 328Who with a lingering slay his course doth let,
  7. 329Till every minute pays the hour his debt.
Stanza 48 explanation →
  1. 330'So, so,' quoth he, 'these lets attend the time,
  2. 331Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring,
  3. 332To add a more rejoicing to the prime,
  4. 333And give the sneaped birds more cause to sing.
  5. 334Pain pays the income of each precious thing;
  6. 335Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves and sands,
  7. 336The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands.'
Stanza 49 explanation →
  1. 337Now is he come unto the chamber-door,
  2. 338That shuts him from the heaven of his thought,
  3. 339Which with a yielding latch, and with no more,
  4. 340Hath barr'd him from the blessed thing he sought.
  5. 341So from himself impiety hath wrought,
  6. 342That for his prey to pray he doth begin,
  7. 343As if the heavens should countenance his sin.
Stanza 50 explanation →
  1. 344But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,
  2. 345Having solicited th' eternal power
  3. 346That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair,
  4. 347And they would stand auspicious to the hour,
  5. 348Even there he starts: quoth he, 'I must deflower:
  6. 349The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact,
  7. 350How can they then assist me in the act?
Stanza 51 explanation →
  1. 351'Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide!
  2. 352My will is back'd with resolution:
  3. 353Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried;
  4. 354The blackest sin is clear'd with absolution;
  5. 355Against love's fire fear's frost hath dissolution.
  6. 356The eye of heaven is out, and misty night
  7. 357Covers the shame that follows sweet delight.'
Stanza 52 explanation →
  1. 358This said, his guilty hand pluck'd up the latch,
  2. 359And with his knee the door he opens wide.
  3. 360The dove sleeps fast that this night-owl will catch:
  4. 361Thus treason works ere traitors be espied.
  5. 362Who sees the lurking serpent steps aside;
  6. 363But she, sound sleeping, fearing no such thing,
  7. 364Lies at the mercy of his mortal sting.
Stanza 53 explanation →
  1. 365Into the chamber wickedly he stalks,
  2. 366And gazeth on her yet unstained bed.
  3. 367The curtains being close, about he walks,
  4. 368Rolling his greedy eyeballs in his head:
  5. 369By their high treason is his heart misled;
  6. 370Which gives the watch-word to his hand full soon
  7. 371To draw the cloud that hides the silver moon.
Stanza 54 explanation →
  1. 372Look, as the fair and fiery-pointed sun,
  2. 373Rushing from forth a cloud, bereaves our sight;
  3. 374Even so, the curtain drawn, his eyes begun
  4. 375To wink, being blinded with a greater light:
  5. 376Whether it is that she reflects so bright,
  6. 377That dazzleth them, or else some shame supposed;
  7. 378But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed.
Stanza 55 explanation →
  1. 379O, had they in that darksome prison died!
  2. 380Then had they seen the period of their ill;
  3. 381Then Collatine again, by Lucrece' side,
  4. 382In his clear bed might have reposed still:
  5. 383But they must ope, this blessed league to kill;
  6. 384And holy-thoughted Lucrece to their sight
  7. 385Must sell her joy, her life, her world's delight.
Stanza 56 explanation →
  1. 386Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under,
  2. 387Cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss;
  3. 388Who, therefore angry, seems to part in sunder,
  4. 389Swelling on either side to want his bliss;
  5. 390Between whose hills her head entombed is:
  6. 391Where, like a virtuous monument, she lies,
  7. 392To be admired of lewd unhallow'd eyes.
Stanza 57 explanation →
  1. 393Without the bed her other fair hand was,
  2. 394On the green coverlet; whose perfect white
  3. 395Show'd like an April daisy on the grass,
  4. 396With pearly sweat, resembling dew of night.
  5. 397Her eyes, like marigolds, had sheathed their light,
  6. 398And canopied in darkness sweetly lay,
  7. 399Till they might open to adorn the day.
Stanza 58 explanation →
  1. 400Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath;
  2. 401O modest wantons! wanton modesty!
  3. 402Showing life's triumph in the map of death,
  4. 403And death's dim look in life's mortality:
  5. 404Each in her sleep themselves so beautify,
  6. 405As if between them twain there were no strife,
  7. 406But that life lived in death, and death in life.
Stanza 59 explanation →
  1. 407Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue,
  2. 408A pair of maiden worlds unconquered,
  3. 409Save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew,
  4. 410And him by oath they truly honoured.
  5. 411These worlds in Tarquin new ambition bred;
  6. 412Who, like a foul ursurper, went about
  7. 413From this fair throne to heave the owner out.
Stanza 60 explanation →
  1. 414What could he see but mightily he noted?
  2. 415What did he note but strongly he desired?
  3. 416What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,
  4. 417And in his will his wilful eye he tired.
  5. 418With more than admiration he admired
  6. 419Her azure veins, her alabaster skin,
  7. 420Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.
Stanza 61 explanation →
  1. 421As the grim lion fawneth o'er his prey,
  2. 422Sharp hunger by the conquest satisfied,
  3. 423So o'er this sleeping soul doth Tarquin stay,
  4. 424His rage of lust by gazing qualified;
  5. 425Slack'd, not suppress'd; for standing by her side,
  6. 426His eye, which late this mutiny restrains,
  7. 427Unto a greater uproar tempts his veins:
Stanza 62 explanation →
  1. 428And they, like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,
  2. 429Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,
  3. 430In bloody death and ravishment delighting,
  4. 431Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,
  5. 432Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting:
  6. 433Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,
  7. 434Gives the hot charge and bids them do their liking.
Stanza 63 explanation →
  1. 435His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,
  2. 436His eye commends the leading to his hand;
  3. 437His hand, as proud of such a dignity,
  4. 438Smoking with pride, march'd on to make his stand
  5. 439On her bare breast, the heart of all her land;
  6. 440Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,
  7. 441Left there round turrets destitute and pale.
Stanza 64 explanation →
  1. 442They, mustering to the quiet cabinet
  2. 443Where their dear governess and lady lies,
  3. 444Do tell her she is dreadfully beset,
  4. 445And fright her with confusion of their cries:
  5. 446She, much amazed, breaks ope her lock'd-up eyes,
  6. 447Who, peeping forth this tumult to behold,
  7. 448Are by his flaming torch dimm'd and controll'd.
Stanza 65 explanation →
  1. 449Imagine her as one in dead of night
  2. 450From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking,
  3. 451That thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite,
  4. 452Whose grim aspect sets every joint a-shaking;
  5. 453What terror 'tis! but she, in worser taking,
  6. 454From sleep disturbed, heedfully doth view
  7. 455The sight which makes supposed terror true.
Stanza 66 explanation →
  1. 456Wrapp'd and confounded in a thousand fears,
  2. 457Like to a new-kill'd bird she trembling lies;
  3. 458She dares not look; yet, winking, there appears
  4. 459Quick-shifting antics, ugly in her eyes:
  5. 460Such shadows are the weak brain's forgeries;
  6. 461Who, angry that the eyes fly from their lights,
  7. 462In darkness daunts them with more dreadful sights.
Stanza 67 explanation →
  1. 463His hand, that yet remains upon her breast,--
  2. 464Rude ram, to batter such an ivory wall!--
  3. 465May feel her heart-poor citizen!--distress'd,
  4. 466Wounding itself to death, rise up and fall,
  5. 467Beating her bulk, that his hand shakes withal.
  6. 468This moves in him more rage and lesser pity,
  7. 469To make the breach and enter this sweet city.
Stanza 68 explanation →
  1. 470First, like a trumpet, doth his tongue begin
  2. 471To sound a parley to his heartless foe;
  3. 472Who o'er the white sheet peers her whiter chin,
  4. 473The reason of this rash alarm to know,
  5. 474Which he by dumb demeanor seeks to show;
  6. 475But she with vehement prayers urgeth still
  7. 476Under what colour he commits this ill.
Stanza 69 explanation →
  1. 477Thus he replies: 'The colour in thy face,
  2. 478That even for anger makes the lily pale,
  3. 479And the red rose blush at her own disgrace,
  4. 480Shall plead for me and tell my loving tale:
  5. 481Under that colour am I come to scale
  6. 482Thy never-conquer'd fort: the fault is thine,
  7. 483For those thine eyes betray thee unto mine.
Stanza 70 explanation →
  1. 484'Thus I forestall thee, if thou mean to chide:
  2. 485Thy beauty hath ensnared thee to this night,
  3. 486Where thou with patience must my will abide;
  4. 487My will that marks thee for my earth's delight,
  5. 488Which I to conquer sought with all my might;
  6. 489But as reproof and reason beat it dead,
  7. 490By thy bright beauty was it newly bred.
Stanza 71 explanation →
  1. 491'I see what crosses my attempt will bring;
  2. 492I know what thorns the growing rose defends;
  3. 493I think the honey guarded with a sting;
  4. 494All this beforehand counsel comprehends:
  5. 495But will is deaf and hears no heedful friends;
  6. 496Only he hath an eye to gaze on beauty,
  7. 497And dotes on what he looks, 'gainst law or duty.
Stanza 72 explanation →
  1. 498'I have debated, even in my soul,
  2. 499What wrong, what shame, what sorrow I shall breed;
  3. 500But nothing can affection's course control,
  4. 501Or stop the headlong fury of his speed.
  5. 502I know repentant tears ensue the deed,
  6. 503Reproach, disdain, and deadly enmity;
  7. 504Yet strive I to embrace mine infamy.'
Stanza 73 explanation →
  1. 505This said, he shakes aloft his Roman blade,
  2. 506Which, like a falcon towering in the skies,
  3. 507Coucheth the fowl below with his wings' shade,
  4. 508Whose crooked beak threats if he mount he dies:
  5. 509So under his insulting falchion lies
  6. 510Harmless Lucretia, marking what he tells
  7. 511With trembling fear, as fowl hear falcon's bells.
Stanza 74 explanation →
  1. 512'Lucrece,' quoth he,'this night I must enjoy thee:
  2. 513If thou deny, then force must work my way,
  3. 514For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee:
  4. 515That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay,
  5. 516To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;
  6. 517And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,
  7. 518Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him.
Stanza 75 explanation →
  1. 519'So thy surviving husband shall remain
  2. 520The scornful mark of every open eye;
  3. 521Thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain,
  4. 522Thy issue blurr'd with nameless bastardy:
  5. 523And thou, the author of their obloquy,
  6. 524Shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes,
  7. 525And sung by children in succeeding times.
Stanza 76 explanation →
  1. 526'But if thou yield, I rest thy secret friend:
  2. 527The fault unknown is as a thought unacted;
  3. 528A little harm done to a great good end
  4. 529For lawful policy remains enacted.
  5. 530The poisonous simple sometimes is compacted
  6. 531In a pure compound; being so applied,
  7. 532His venom in effect is purified.
Stanza 77 explanation →
  1. 533'Then, for thy husband and thy children's sake,
  2. 534Tender my suit: bequeath not to their lot
  3. 535The shame that from them no device can take,
  4. 536The blemish that will never be forgot;
  5. 537Worse than a slavish wipe or birth-hour's blot:
  6. 538For marks descried in men's nativity
  7. 539Are nature's faults, not their own infamy.'
Stanza 78 explanation →
  1. 540Here with a cockatrice' dead-killing eye
  2. 541He rouseth up himself and makes a pause;
  3. 542While she, the picture of pure piety,
  4. 543Like a white hind under the gripe's sharp claws,
  5. 544Pleads, in a wilderness where are no laws,
  6. 545To the rough beast that knows no gentle right,
  7. 546Nor aught obeys but his foul appetite.
Stanza 79 explanation →
  1. 547But when a black-faced cloud the world doth threat,
  2. 548In his dim mist the aspiring mountains hiding,
  3. 549From earth's dark womb some gentle gust doth get,
  4. 550Which blows these pitchy vapours from their bidding,
  5. 551Hindering their present fall by this dividing;
  6. 552So his unhallow'd haste her words delays,
  7. 553And moody Pluto winks while Orpheus plays.
Stanza 80 explanation →
  1. 554Yet, foul night-waking cat, he doth but dally,
  2. 555While in his hold-fast foot the weak mouse panteth:
  3. 556Her sad behavior feeds his vulture folly,
  4. 557A swallowing gulf that even in plenty wanteth:
  5. 558His ear her prayers admits, but his heart granteth
  6. 559No penetrable entrance to her plaining:
  7. 560Tears harden lust, though marble wear with raining.
Stanza 81 explanation →
  1. 561Her pity-pleading eyes are sadly fix'd
  2. 562In the remorseless wrinkles of his face;
  3. 563Her modest eloquence with sighs is mix'd,
  4. 564Which to her oratory adds more grace.
  5. 565She puts the period often from his place;
  6. 566And midst the sentence so her accent breaks,
  7. 567That twice she doth begin ere once she speaks.
Stanza 82 explanation →
  1. 568She conjures him by high almighty Jove,
  2. 569By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath,
  3. 570By her untimely tears, her husband's love,
  4. 571By holy human law, and common troth,
  5. 572By heaven and earth, and all the power of both,
  6. 573That to his borrow'd bed he make retire,
  7. 574And stoop to honour, not to foul desire.
Stanza 83 explanation →
  1. 575Quoth she, 'Reward not hospitality
  2. 576With such black payment as thou hast pretended;
  3. 577Mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee;
  4. 578Mar not the thing that cannot be amended;
  5. 579End thy ill aim before thy shoot be ended;
  6. 580He is no woodman that doth bend his bow
  7. 581To strike a poor unseasonable doe.
Stanza 84 explanation →
  1. 582'My husband is thy friend; for his sake spare me:
  2. 583Thyself art mighty; for thine own sake leave me:
  3. 584Myself a weakling; do not then ensnare me:
  4. 585Thou look'st not like deceit; do not deceive me.
  5. 586My sighs, like whirlwinds, labour hence to heave thee:
  6. 587If ever man were moved with woman moans,
  7. 588Be moved with my tears, my sighs, my groans:
Stanza 85 explanation →
  1. 589'All which together, like a troubled ocean,
  2. 590Beat at thy rocky and wreck-threatening heart,
  3. 591To soften it with their continual motion;
  4. 592For stones dissolved to water do convert.
  5. 593O, if no harder than a stone thou art,
  6. 594Melt at my tears, and be compassionate!
  7. 595Soft pity enters at an iron gate.
Stanza 86 explanation →
  1. 596'In Tarquin's likeness I did entertain thee:
  2. 597Hast thou put on his shape to do him shame?
  3. 598To all the host of heaven I complain me,
  4. 599Thou wrong'st his honour, wound'st his princely name.
  5. 600Thou art not what thou seem'st; and if the same,
  6. 601Thou seem'st not what thou art, a god, a king;
  7. 602For kings like gods should govern everything.
Stanza 87 explanation →
  1. 603'How will thy shame be seeded in thine age,
  2. 604When thus thy vices bud before thy spring!
  3. 605If in thy hope thou darest do such outrage,
  4. 606What darest thou not when once thou art a king?
  5. 607O, be remember'd, no outrageous thing
  6. 608From vassal actors can be wiped away;
  7. 609Then kings' misdeeds cannot be hid in clay.
Stanza 88 explanation →
  1. 610'This deed will make thee only loved for fear;
  2. 611But happy monarchs still are fear'd for love:
  3. 612With foul offenders thou perforce must bear,
  4. 613When they in thee the like offences prove:
  5. 614If but for fear of this, thy will remove;
  6. 615For princes are the glass, the school, the book,
  7. 616Where subjects' eyes do learn, do read, do look.
Stanza 89 explanation →
  1. 617'And wilt thou be the school where Lust shall learn?
  2. 618Must he in thee read lectures of such shame?
  3. 619Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern
  4. 620Authority for sin, warrant for blame,
  5. 621To privilege dishonour in thy name?
  6. 622Thou black'st reproach against long-living laud,
  7. 623And makest fair reputation but a bawd.
Stanza 90 explanation →
  1. 624'Hast thou command? by him that gave it thee,
  2. 625From a pure heart command thy rebel will:
  3. 626Draw not thy sword to guard iniquity,
  4. 627For it was lent thee all that brood to kill.
  5. 628Thy princely office how canst thou fulfil,
  6. 629When, pattern'd by thy fault, foul sin may say,
  7. 630He learn'd to sin, and thou didst teach the way?
Stanza 91 explanation →
  1. 631'Think but how vile a spectacle it were,
  2. 632To view thy present trespass in another.
  3. 633Men's faults do seldom to themselves appear;
  4. 634Their own transgressions partially they smother:
  5. 635This guilt would seem death-worthy in thy brother.
  6. 636O, how are they wrapp'd in with infamies
  7. 637That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!
Stanza 92 explanation →
  1. 638'To thee, to thee, my heaved-up hands appeal,
  2. 639Not to seducing lust, thy rash relier:
  3. 640I sue for exiled majesty's repeal;
  4. 641Let him return, and flattering thoughts retire:
  5. 642His true respect will prison false desire,
  6. 643And wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne,
  7. 644That thou shalt see thy state and pity mine.'
Stanza 93 explanation →
  1. 645'Have done,' quoth he: 'my uncontrolled tide
  2. 646Turns not, but swells the higher by this let.
  3. 647Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide,
  4. 648And with the wind in greater fury fret:
  5. 649The petty streams that pay a daily debt
  6. 650To their salt sovereign, with their fresh falls' haste
  7. 651Add to his flow, but alter not his taste.'
Stanza 94 explanation →
  1. 652'Thou art,' quoth she, 'a sea, a sovereign king;
  2. 653And, lo, there falls into thy boundless flood
  3. 654Black lust, dishonour, shame, misgoverning,
  4. 655Who seek to stain the ocean of thy blood.
  5. 656If all these pretty ills shall change thy good,
  6. 657Thy sea within a puddle's womb is hearsed,
  7. 658And not the puddle in thy sea dispersed.
Stanza 95 explanation →
  1. 659'So shall these slaves be king, and thou their slave;
  2. 660Thou nobly base, they basely dignified;
  3. 661Thou their fair life, and they thy fouler grave:
  4. 662Thou loathed in their shame, they in thy pride:
  5. 663The lesser thing should not the greater hide;
  6. 664The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot,
  7. 665But low shrubs wither at the cedar's root.
Stanza 96 explanation →
  1. 666'So let thy thoughts, low vassals to thy state'--
  2. 667No more,' quoth he; 'by heaven, I will not hear thee:
  3. 668Yield to my love; if not, enforced hate,
  4. 669Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee;
  5. 670That done, despitefully I mean to bear thee
  6. 671Unto the base bed of some rascal groom,
  7. 672To be thy partner in this shameful doom.'
Stanza 97 explanation →
  1. 673This said, he sets his foot upon the light,
  2. 674For light and lust are deadly enemies:
  3. 675Shame folded up in blind concealing night,
  4. 676When most unseen, then most doth tyrannize.
  5. 677The wolf hath seized his prey, the poor lamb cries;
  6. 678Till with her own white fleece her voice controll'd
  7. 679Entombs her outcry in her lips' sweet fold:
Stanza 98 explanation →
  1. 680For with the nightly linen that she wears
  2. 681He pens her piteous clamours in her head;
  3. 682Cooling his hot face in the chastest tears
  4. 683That ever modest eyes with sorrow shed.
  5. 684O, that prone lust should stain so pure a bed!
  6. 685The spots whereof could weeping purify,
  7. 686Her tears should drop on them perpetually.
Stanza 99 explanation →
  1. 687But she hath lost a dearer thing than life,
  2. 688And he hath won what he would lose again:
  3. 689This forced league doth force a further strife;
  4. 690This momentary joy breeds months of pain;
  5. 691This hot desire converts to cold disdain:
  6. 692Pure Chastity is rifled of her store,
  7. 693And Lust, the thief, far poorer than before.
Stanza 100 explanation →
  1. 694Look, as the full-fed hound or gorged hawk,
  2. 695Unapt for tender smell or speedy flight,
  3. 696Make slow pursuit, or altogether balk
  4. 697The prey wherein by nature they delight;
  5. 698So surfeit-taking Tarquin fares this night:
  6. 699His taste delicious, in digestion souring,
  7. 700Devours his will, that lived by foul devouring.
Stanza 101 explanation →
  1. 701O, deeper sin than bottomless conceit
  2. 702Can comprehend in still imagination!
  3. 703Drunken Desire must vomit his receipt,
  4. 704Ere he can see his own abomination.
  5. 705While Lust is in his pride, no exclamation
  6. 706Can curb his heat or rein his rash desire,
  7. 707Till like a jade Self-will himself doth tire.
Stanza 102 explanation →
  1. 708And then with lank and lean discolour'd cheek,
  2. 709With heavy eye, knit brow, and strengthless pace,
  3. 710Feeble Desire, all recreant, poor, and meek,
  4. 711Like to a bankrupt beggar wails his case:
  5. 712The flesh being proud, Desire doth fight with Grace,
  6. 713For there it revels; and when that decays,
  7. 714The guilty rebel for remission prays.
Stanza 103 explanation →
  1. 715So fares it with this faultful lord of Rome,
  2. 716Who this accomplishment so hotly chased;
  3. 717For now against himself he sounds this doom,
  4. 718That through the length of times he stands disgraced:
  5. 719Besides, his soul's fair temple is defaced;
  6. 720To whose weak ruins muster troops of cares,
  7. 721To ask the spotted princess how she fares.
Stanza 104 explanation →
  1. 722She says, her subjects with foul insurrection
  2. 723Have batter'd down her consecrated wall,
  3. 724And by their mortal fault brought in subjection
  4. 725Her immortality, and made her thrall
  5. 726To living death and pain perpetual:
  6. 727Which in her prescience she controlled still,
  7. 728But her foresight could not forestall their will.
Stanza 105 explanation →
  1. 729Even in this thought through the dark night he stealeth,
  2. 730A captive victor that hath lost in gain;
  3. 731Bearing away the wound that nothing healeth,
  4. 732The scar that will, despite of cure, remain;
  5. 733Leaving his spoil perplex'd in greater pain.
  6. 734She bears the load of lust he left behind,
  7. 735And he the burden of a guilty mind.
Stanza 106 explanation →
  1. 736He like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence;
  2. 737She like a wearied lamb lies panting there;
  3. 738He scowls and hates himself for his offence;
  4. 739She, desperate, with her nails her flesh doth tear;
  5. 740He faintly flies, sneaking with guilty fear;
  6. 741She stays, exclaiming on the direful night;
  7. 742He runs, and chides his vanish'd, loathed delight.
Stanza 107 explanation →
  1. 743He thence departs a heavy convertite;
  2. 744She there remains a hopeless castaway;
  3. 745He in his speed looks for the morning light;
  4. 746She prays she never may behold the day,
  5. 747'For day,' quoth she, 'nights scapes doth open lay,
  6. 748And my true eyes have never practised how
  7. 749To cloak offences with a cunning brow.
Stanza 108 explanation →
  1. 750'They think not but that every eye can see
  2. 751The same disgrace which they themselves behold;
  3. 752And therefore would they still in darkness be,
  4. 753To have their unseen sin remain untold;
  5. 754For they their guilt with weeping will unfold,
  6. 755And grave, like water that doth eat in steel,
  7. 756Upon my cheeks what helpless shame I feel.'
Stanza 109 explanation →
  1. 757Here she exclaims against repose and rest,
  2. 758And bids her eyes hereafter still be blind.
  3. 759She wakes her heart by beating on her breast,
  4. 760And bids it leap from thence, where it may find
  5. 761Some purer chest to close so pure a mind.
  6. 762Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite
  7. 763Against the unseen secrecy of night:
Stanza 110 explanation →
  1. 764'O comfort-killing Night, image of hell!
  2. 765Dim register and notary of shame!
  3. 766Black stage for tragedies and murders fell!
  4. 767Vast sin-concealing chaos! nurse of blame!
  5. 768Blind muffled bawd! dark harbour for defame!
  6. 769Grim cave of death! whispering conspirator
  7. 770With close-tongued treason and the ravisher!
Stanza 111 explanation →
  1. 771'O hateful, vaporous, and foggy Night!
  2. 772Since thou art guilty of my cureless crime,
  3. 773Muster thy mists to meet the eastern light,
  4. 774Make war against proportion'd course of time;
  5. 775Or if thou wilt permit the sun to climb
  6. 776His wonted height, yet ere he go to bed,
  7. 777Knit poisonous clouds about his golden head.
Stanza 112 explanation →
  1. 778'With rotten damps ravish the morning air;
  2. 779Let their exhaled unwholesome breaths make sick
  3. 780The life of purity, the supreme fair,
  4. 781Ere he arrive his weary noon-tide prick;
  5. 782And let thy misty vapours march so thick,
  6. 783That in their smoky ranks his smother'd light
  7. 784May set at noon and make perpetual night.
Stanza 113 explanation →
  1. 785'Were Tarquin Night, as he is but Night's child,
  2. 786The silver-shining queen he would distain;
  3. 787Her twinkling handmaids too, by him defiled,
  4. 788Through Night's black bosom should not peep again:
  5. 789So should I have co-partners in my pain;
  6. 790And fellowship in woe doth woe assuage,
  7. 791As palmers' chat makes short their pilgrimage.
Stanza 114 explanation →
  1. 792'Where now I have no one to blush with me,
  2. 793To cross their arms and hang their heads with mine,
  3. 794To mask their brows and hide their infamy;
  4. 795But I alone alone must sit and pine,
  5. 796Seasoning the earth with showers of silver brine,
  6. 797Mingling my talk with tears, my grief with groans,
  7. 798Poor wasting monuments of lasting moans.
Stanza 115 explanation →
  1. 799'O Night, thou furnace of foul-reeking smoke,
  2. 800Let not the jealous Day behold that face
  3. 801Which underneath thy black all-hiding cloak
  4. 802Immodestly lies martyr'd with disgrace!
  5. 803Keep still possession of thy gloomy place,
  6. 804That all the faults which in thy reign are made
  7. 805May likewise be sepulchred in thy shade!
Stanza 116 explanation →
  1. 806'Make me not object to the tell-tale Day!
  2. 807The light will show, character'd in my brow,
  3. 808The story of sweet chastity's decay,
  4. 809The impious breach of holy wedlock vow:
  5. 810Yea the illiterate, that know not how
  6. 811To cipher what is writ in learned books,
  7. 812Will quote my loathsome trespass in my looks.
Stanza 117 explanation →
  1. 813'The nurse, to still her child, will tell my story,
  2. 814And fright her crying babe with Tarquin's name;
  3. 815The orator, to deck his oratory,
  4. 816Will couple my reproach to Tarquin's shame;
  5. 817Feast-finding minstrels, tuning my defame,
  6. 818Will tie the hearers to attend each line,
  7. 819How Tarquin wronged me, I Collatine.
Stanza 118 explanation →
  1. 820'Let my good name, that senseless reputation,
  2. 821For Collatine's dear love be kept unspotted:
  3. 822If that be made a theme for disputation,
  4. 823The branches of another root are rotted,
  5. 824And undeserved reproach to him allotted
  6. 825That is as clear from this attaint of mine
  7. 826As I, ere this, was pure to Collatine.
Stanza 119 explanation →
  1. 827'O unseen shame! invisible disgrace!
  2. 828O unfelt sore! crest-wounding, private scar!
  3. 829Reproach is stamp'd in Collatinus' face,
  4. 830And Tarquin's eye may read the mot afar,
  5. 831How he in peace is wounded, not in war.
  6. 832Alas, how many bear such shameful blows,
  7. 833Which not themselves, but he that gives them knows!
Stanza 120 explanation →
  1. 834'If, Collatine, thine honour lay in me,
  2. 835From me by strong assault it is bereft.
  3. 836My honour lost, and I, a drone-like bee,
  4. 837Have no perfection of my summer left,
  5. 838But robb'd and ransack'd by injurious theft:
  6. 839In thy weak hive a wandering wasp hath crept,
  7. 840And suck'd the honey which thy chaste bee kept.
Stanza 121 explanation →
  1. 841'Yet am I guilty of thy honour's wrack;
  2. 842Yet for thy honour did I entertain him;
  3. 843Coming from thee, I could not put him back,
  4. 844For it had been dishonour to disdain him:
  5. 845Besides, of weariness he did complain him,
  6. 846And talk'd of virtue: O unlook'd-for evil,
  7. 847When virtue is profaned in such a devil!
Stanza 122 explanation →
  1. 848'Why should the worm intrude the maiden bud?
  2. 849Or hateful cuckoos hatch in sparrows' nests?
  3. 850Or toads infect fair founts with venom mud?
  4. 851Or tyrant folly lurk in gentle breasts?
  5. 852Or kings be breakers of their own behests?
  6. 853But no perfection is so absolute,
  7. 854That some impurity doth not pollute.
Stanza 123 explanation →
  1. 855'The aged man that coffers-up his gold
  2. 856Is plagued with cramps and gouts and painful fits;
  3. 857And scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold,
  4. 858But like still-pining Tantalus he sits,
  5. 859And useless barns the harvest of his wits;
  6. 860Having no other pleasure of his gain
  7. 861But torment that it cannot cure his pain.
Stanza 124 explanation →
  1. 862'So then he hath it when he cannot use it,
  2. 863And leaves it to be master'd by his young;
  3. 864Who in their pride do presently abuse it:
  4. 865Their father was too weak, and they too strong,
  5. 866To hold their cursed-blessed fortune long.
  6. 867The sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours
  7. 868Even in the moment that we call them ours.
Stanza 125 explanation →
  1. 869'Unruly blasts wait on the tender spring;
  2. 870Unwholesome weeds take root with precious flowers;
  3. 871The adder hisses where the sweet birds sing;
  4. 872What virtue breeds iniquity devours:
  5. 873We have no good that we can say is ours,
  6. 874But ill-annexed Opportunity
  7. 875Or kills his life or else his quality.
Stanza 126 explanation →
  1. 876'O Opportunity, thy guilt is great!
  2. 877'Tis thou that executest the traitor's treason:
  3. 878Thou set'st the wolf where he the lamb may get;
  4. 879Whoever plots the sin, thou 'point'st the season;
  5. 880'Tis thou that spurn'st at right, at law, at reason;
  6. 881And in thy shady cell, where none may spy him,
  7. 882Sits Sin, to seize the souls that wander by him.
Stanza 127 explanation →
  1. 883'Thou makest the vestal violate her oath;
  2. 884Thou blow'st the fire when temperance is thaw'd;
  3. 885Thou smother'st honesty, thou murder'st troth;
  4. 886Thou foul abettor! thou notorious bawd!
  5. 887Thou plantest scandal and displacest laud:
  6. 888Thou ravisher, thou traitor, thou false thief,
  7. 889Thy honey turns to gall, thy joy to grief!
Stanza 128 explanation →
  1. 890'Thy secret pleasure turns to open shame,
  2. 891Thy private feasting to a public fast,
  3. 892Thy smoothing titles to a ragged name,
  4. 893Thy sugar'd tongue to bitter wormwood taste:
  5. 894Thy violent vanities can never last.
  6. 895How comes it then, vile Opportunity,
  7. 896Being so bad, such numbers seek for thee?
Stanza 129 explanation →
  1. 897'When wilt thou be the humble suppliant's friend,
  2. 898And bring him where his suit may be obtain'd?
  3. 899When wilt thou sort an hour great strifes to end?
  4. 900Or free that soul which wretchedness hath chain'd?
  5. 901Give physic to the sick, ease to the pain'd?
  6. 902The poor, lame, blind, halt, creep, cry out for thee;
  7. 903But they ne'er meet with Opportunity.
Stanza 130 explanation →
  1. 904'The patient dies while the physician sleeps;
  2. 905The orphan pines while the oppressor feeds;
  3. 906Justice is feasting while the widow weeps;
  4. 907Advice is sporting while infection breeds:
  5. 908Thou grant'st no time for charitable deeds:
  6. 909Wrath, envy, treason, rape, and murder's rages,
  7. 910Thy heinous hours wait on them as their pages.
Stanza 131 explanation →
  1. 911'When Truth and Virtue have to do with thee,
  2. 912A thousand crosses keep them from thy aid:
  3. 913They buy thy help; but Sin ne'er gives a fee,
  4. 914He gratis comes; and thou art well appaid
  5. 915As well to hear as grant what he hath said.
  6. 916My Collatine would else have come to me
  7. 917When Tarquin did, but he was stay'd by thee.
Stanza 132 explanation →
  1. 918Guilty thou art of murder and of theft,
  2. 919Guilty of perjury and subornation,
  3. 920Guilty of treason, forgery, and shift,
  4. 921Guilty of incest, that abomination;
  5. 922An accessary by thine inclination
  6. 923To all sins past, and all that are to come,
  7. 924From the creation to the general doom.
Stanza 133 explanation →
  1. 925'Mis-shapen Time, copesmate of ugly Night,
  2. 926Swift subtle post, carrier of grisly care,
  3. 927Eater of youth, false slave to false delight,
  4. 928Base watch of woes, sin's pack-horse, virtue's snare;
  5. 929Thou nursest all and murder'st all that are:
  6. 930O, hear me then, injurious, shifting Time!
  7. 931Be guilty of my death, since of my crime.
Stanza 134 explanation →
  1. 932'Why hath thy servant, Opportunity,
  2. 933Betray'd the hours thou gavest me to repose,
  3. 934Cancell'd my fortunes, and enchained me
  4. 935To endless date of never-ending woes?
  5. 936Time's office is to fine the hate of foes;
  6. 937To eat up errors by opinion bred,
  7. 938Not spend the dowry of a lawful bed.
Stanza 135 explanation →
  1. 939'Time's glory is to calm contending kings,
  2. 940To unmask falsehood and bring truth to light,
  3. 941To stamp the seal of time in aged things,
  4. 942To wake the morn and sentinel the night,
  5. 943To wrong the wronger till he render right,
  6. 944To ruinate proud buildings with thy hours,
  7. 945And smear with dust their glittering golden towers;
Stanza 136 explanation →
  1. 946'To fill with worm-holes stately monuments,
  2. 947To feed oblivion with decay of things,
  3. 948To blot old books and alter their contents,
  4. 949To pluck the quills from ancient ravens' wings,
  5. 950To dry the old oak's sap and cherish springs,
  6. 951To spoil antiquities of hammer'd steel,
  7. 952And turn the giddy round of Fortune's wheel;
Stanza 137 explanation →
  1. 953'To show the beldam daughters of her daughter,
  2. 954To make the child a man, the man a child,
  3. 955To slay the tiger that doth live by slaughter,
  4. 956To tame the unicorn and lion wild,
  5. 957To mock the subtle in themselves beguiled,
  6. 958To cheer the ploughman with increaseful crops,
  7. 959And waste huge stones with little water drops.
Stanza 138 explanation →
  1. 960'Why work'st thou mischief in thy pilgrimage,
  2. 961Unless thou couldst return to make amends?
  3. 962One poor retiring minute in an age
  4. 963Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends,
  5. 964Lending him wit that to bad debtors lends:
  6. 965O, this dread night, wouldst thou one hour come back,
  7. 966I could prevent this storm and shun thy wrack!
Stanza 139 explanation →
  1. 967'Thou ceaseless lackey to eternity,
  2. 968With some mischance cross Tarquin in his flight:
  3. 969Devise extremes beyond extremity,
  4. 970To make him curse this cursed crimeful night:
  5. 971Let ghastly shadows his lewd eyes affright;
  6. 972And the dire thought of his committed evil
  7. 973Shape every bush a hideous shapeless devil.
Stanza 140 explanation →
  1. 974'Disturb his hours of rest with restless trances,
  2. 975Afflict him in his bed with bedrid groans;
  3. 976Let there bechance him pitiful mischances,
  4. 977To make him moan; but pity not his moans:
  5. 978Stone him with harden'd hearts harder than stones;
  6. 979And let mild women to him lose their mildness,
  7. 980Wilder to him than tigers in their wildness.
Stanza 141 explanation →
  1. 981'Let him have time to tear his curled hair,
  2. 982Let him have time against himself to rave,
  3. 983Let him have time of Time's help to despair,
  4. 984Let him have time to live a loathed slave,
  5. 985Let him have time a beggar's orts to crave,
  6. 986And time to see one that by alms doth live
  7. 987Disdain to him disdained scraps to give.
Stanza 142 explanation →
  1. 988'Let him have time to see his friends his foes,
  2. 989And merry fools to mock at him resort;
  3. 990Let him have time to mark how slow time goes
  4. 991In time of sorrow, and how swift and short
  5. 992His time of folly and his time of sport;
  6. 993And ever let his unrecalling crime
  7. 994Have time to wail th' abusing of his time.
Stanza 143 explanation →
  1. 995'O Time, thou tutor both to good and bad,
  2. 996Teach me to curse him that thou taught'st this ill!
  3. 997At his own shadow let the thief run mad,
  4. 998Himself himself seek every hour to kill!
  5. 999Such wretched hands such wretched blood should spill;
  6. 1000For who so base would such an office have
  7. 1001As slanderous death's-man to so base a slave?
Stanza 144 explanation →
  1. 1002'The baser is he, coming from a king,
  2. 1003To shame his hope with deeds degenerate:
  3. 1004The mightier man, the mightier is the thing
  4. 1005That makes him honour'd, or begets him hate;
  5. 1006For greatest scandal waits on greatest state.
  6. 1007The moon being clouded presently is miss'd,
  7. 1008But little stars may hide them when they list.
Stanza 145 explanation →
  1. 1009'The crow may bathe his coal-black wings in mire,
  2. 1010And unperceived fly with the filth away;
  3. 1011But if the like the snow-white swan desire,
  4. 1012The stain upon his silver down will stay.
  5. 1013Poor grooms are sightless night, kings glorious day:
  6. 1014Gnats are unnoted wheresoe'er they fly,
  7. 1015But eagles gazed upon with every eye.
Stanza 146 explanation →
  1. 1016'Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools!
  2. 1017Unprofitable sounds, weak arbitrators!
  3. 1018Busy yourselves in skill-contending schools;
  4. 1019Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters;
  5. 1020To trembling clients be you mediators:
  6. 1021For me, I force not argument a straw,
  7. 1022Since that my case is past the help of law.
Stanza 147 explanation →
  1. 1023'In vain I rail at Opportunity,
  2. 1024At Time, at Tarquin, and uncheerful Night;
  3. 1025In vain I cavil with mine infamy,
  4. 1026In vain I spurn at my confirm'd despite:
  5. 1027This helpless smoke of words doth me no right.
  6. 1028The remedy indeed to do me good
  7. 1029Is to let forth my foul-defiled blood.
Stanza 148 explanation →
  1. 1030'Poor hand, why quiver'st thou at this decree?
  2. 1031Honour thyself to rid me of this shame:
  3. 1032For if I die, my honour lives in thee;
  4. 1033But if I live, thou livest in my defame:
  5. 1034Since thou couldst not defend thy loyal dame,
  6. 1035And wast afeard to scratch her wicked foe,
  7. 1036Kill both thyself and her for yielding so.'
Stanza 149 explanation →
  1. 1037This said, from her be-tumbled couch she starteth,
  2. 1038To find some desperate instrument of death:
  3. 1039But this no slaughterhouse no tool imparteth
  4. 1040To make more vent for passage of her breath;
  5. 1041Which, thronging through her lips, so vanisheth
  6. 1042As smoke from AEtna, that in air consumes,
  7. 1043Or that which from discharged cannon fumes.
Stanza 150 explanation →
  1. 1044'In vain,' quoth she, 'I live, and seek in vain
  2. 1045Some happy mean to end a hapless life.
  3. 1046I fear'd by Tarquin's falchion to be slain,
  4. 1047Yet for the self-same purpose seek a knife:
  5. 1048But when I fear'd I was a loyal wife:
  6. 1049So am I now: O no, that cannot be;
  7. 1050Of that true type hath Tarquin rifled me.
Stanza 151 explanation →
  1. 1051'O, that is gone for which I sought to live,
  2. 1052And therefore now I need not fear to die.
  3. 1053To clear this spot by death, at least I give
  4. 1054A badge of fame to slander's livery;
  5. 1055A dying life to living infamy:
  6. 1056Poor helpless help, the treasure stol'n away,
  7. 1057To burn the guiltless casket where it lay!
Stanza 152 explanation →
  1. 1058'Well, well, dear Collatine, thou shalt not know
  2. 1059The stained taste of violated troth;
  3. 1060I will not wrong thy true affection so,
  4. 1061To flatter thee with an infringed oath;
  5. 1062This bastard graff shall never come to growth:
  6. 1063He shall not boast who did thy stock pollute
  7. 1064That thou art doting father of his fruit.
Stanza 153 explanation →
  1. 1065'Nor shall he smile at thee in secret thought,
  2. 1066Nor laugh with his companions at thy state:
  3. 1067But thou shalt know thy interest was not bought
  4. 1068Basely with gold, but stol'n from forth thy gate.
  5. 1069For me, I am the mistress of my fate,
  6. 1070And with my trespass never will dispense,
  7. 1071Till life to death acquit my forced offence.
Stanza 154 explanation →
  1. 1072'I will not poison thee with my attaint,
  2. 1073Nor fold my fault in cleanly-coin'd excuses;
  3. 1074My sable ground of sin I will not paint,
  4. 1075To hide the truth of this false night's abuses:
  5. 1076My tongue shall utter all; mine eyes, like sluices,
  6. 1077As from a mountain-spring that feeds a dale,
  7. 1078Shall gush pure streams to purge my impure tale.'
Stanza 155 explanation →
  1. 1079By this, lamenting Philomel had ended
  2. 1080The well-tuned warble of her nightly sorrow,
  3. 1081And solemn night with slow sad gait descended
  4. 1082To ugly hell; when, lo, the blushing morrow
  5. 1083Lends light to all fair eyes that light will borrow:
  6. 1084But cloudy Lucrece shames herself to see,
  7. 1085And therefore still in night would cloister'd be.
Stanza 156 explanation →
  1. 1086Revealing day through every cranny spies,
  2. 1087And seems to point her out where she sits weeping;
  3. 1088To whom she sobbing speaks: 'O eye of eyes,
  4. 1089Why pry'st thou through my window? leave thy peeping:
  5. 1090Mock with thy tickling beams eyes that are sleeping:
  6. 1091Brand not my forehead with thy piercing light,
  7. 1092For day hath nought to do what's done by night.'
Stanza 157 explanation →
  1. 1093Thus cavils she with every thing she sees:
  2. 1094True grief is fond and testy as a child,
  3. 1095Who wayward once, his mood with nought agrees:
  4. 1096Old woes, not infant sorrows, bear them mild;
  5. 1097Continuance tames the one; the other wild,
  6. 1098Like an unpractised swimmer plunging still,
  7. 1099With too much labour drowns for want of skill.
Stanza 158 explanation →
  1. 1100So she, deep-drenched in a sea of care,
  2. 1101Holds disputation with each thing she views,
  3. 1102And to herself all sorrow doth compare;
  4. 1103No object but her passion's strength renews;
  5. 1104And as one shifts, another straight ensues:
  6. 1105Sometime her grief is dumb and hath no words;
  7. 1106Sometime 'tis mad and too much talk affords.
Stanza 159 explanation →
  1. 1107The little birds that tune their morning's joy
  2. 1108Make her moans mad with their sweet melody:
  3. 1109For mirth doth search the bottom of annoy;
  4. 1110Sad souls are slain in merry company;
  5. 1111Grief best is pleased with grief's society:
  6. 1112True sorrow then is feelingly sufficed
  7. 1113When with like semblance it is sympathized.
Stanza 160 explanation →
  1. 1114'Tis double death to drown in ken of shore;
  2. 1115He ten times pines that pines beholding food;
  3. 1116To see the salve doth make the wound ache more;
  4. 1117Great grief grieves most at that would do it good;
  5. 1118Deep woes roll forward like a gentle flood,
  6. 1119Who being stopp'd, the bounding banks o'erflows;
  7. 1120Grief dallied with nor law nor limit knows.
Stanza 161 explanation →
  1. 1121'You mocking-birds,' quoth she, 'your tunes entomb
  2. 1122Within your hollow-swelling feather'd breasts,
  3. 1123And in my hearing be you mute and dumb:
  4. 1124My restless discord loves no stops nor rests;
  5. 1125A woeful hostess brooks not merry guests:
  6. 1126Relish your nimble notes to pleasing ears;
  7. 1127Distress likes dumps when time is kept with tears.
Stanza 162 explanation →
  1. 1128'Come, Philomel, that sing'st of ravishment,
  2. 1129Make thy sad grove in my dishevell'd hair:
  3. 1130As the dank earth weeps at thy languishment,
  4. 1131So I at each sad strain will strain a tear,
  5. 1132And with deep groans the diapason bear;
  6. 1133For burden-wise I'll hum on Tarquin still,
  7. 1134While thou on Tereus descant'st better skill.
Stanza 163 explanation →
  1. 1135'And whiles against a thorn thou bear'st thy part,
  2. 1136To keep thy sharp woes waking, wretched I,
  3. 1137To imitate thee well, against my heart
  4. 1138Will fix a sharp knife to affright mine eye;
  5. 1139Who, if it wink, shall thereon fall and die.
  6. 1140These means, as frets upon an instrument,
  7. 1141Shall tune our heart-strings to true languishment.
Stanza 164 explanation →
  1. 1142'And for, poor bird, thou sing'st not in the day,
  2. 1143As shaming any eye should thee behold,
  3. 1144Some dark deep desert, seated from the way,
  4. 1145That knows not parching heat nor freezing cold,
  5. 1146Will we find out; and there we will unfold
  6. 1147To creatures stern sad tunes, to change their kinds:
  7. 1148Since men prove beasts, let beasts bear gentle minds.'
Stanza 165 explanation →
  1. 1149As the poor frighted deer, that stands at gaze,
  2. 1150Wildly determining which way to fly,
  3. 1151Or one encompass'd with a winding maze,
  4. 1152That cannot tread the way out readily;
  5. 1153So with herself is she in mutiny,
  6. 1154To live or die which of the twain were better,
  7. 1155When life is shamed, and death reproach's debtor.
Stanza 166 explanation →
  1. 1156'To kill myself,' quoth she, 'alack, what were it,
  2. 1157But with my body my poor soul's pollution?
  3. 1158They that lose half with greater patience bear it
  4. 1159Than they whose whole is swallow'd in confusion.
  5. 1160That mother tries a merciless conclusion
  6. 1161Who, having two sweet babes, when death takes one,
  7. 1162Will slay the other and be nurse to none.
Stanza 167 explanation →
  1. 1163'My body or my soul, which was the dearer,
  2. 1164When the one pure, the other made divine?
  3. 1165Whose love of either to myself was nearer,
  4. 1166When both were kept for heaven and Collatine?
  5. 1167Ay me! the bark peel'd from the lofty pine,
  6. 1168His leaves will wither and his sap decay;
  7. 1169So must my soul, her bark being peel'd away.
Stanza 168 explanation →
  1. 1170'Her house is sack'd, her quiet interrupted,
  2. 1171Her mansion batter'd by the enemy;
  3. 1172Her sacred temple spotted, spoil'd, corrupted,
  4. 1173Grossly engirt with daring infamy:
  5. 1174Then let it not be call'd impiety,
  6. 1175If in this blemish'd fort I make some hole
  7. 1176Through which I may convey this troubled soul.
Stanza 169 explanation →
  1. 1177'Yet die I will not till my Collatine
  2. 1178Have heard the cause of my untimely death;
  3. 1179That he may vow, in that sad hour of mine,
  4. 1180Revenge on him that made me stop my breath.
  5. 1181My stained blood to Tarquin I'll bequeath,
  6. 1182Which by him tainted shall for him be spent,
  7. 1183And as his due writ in my testament.
Stanza 170 explanation →
  1. 1184'My honour I'll bequeath unto the knife
  2. 1185That wounds my body so dishonoured.
  3. 1186'Tis honour to deprive dishonour'd life;
  4. 1187The one will live, the other being dead:
  5. 1188So of shame's ashes shall my fame be bred;
  6. 1189For in my death I murder shameful scorn:
  7. 1190My shame so dead, mine honour is new-born.
Stanza 171 explanation →
  1. 1191'Dear lord of that dear jewel I have lost,
  2. 1192What legacy shall I bequeath to thee?
  3. 1193My resolution, love, shall be thy boast,
  4. 1194By whose example thou revenged mayest be.
  5. 1195How Tarquin must be used, read it in me:
  6. 1196Myself, thy friend, will kill myself, thy foe,
  7. 1197And for my sake serve thou false Tarquin so.
Stanza 172 explanation →
  1. 1198'This brief abridgement of my will I make:
  2. 1199My soul and body to the skies and ground;
  3. 1200My resolution, husband, do thou take;
  4. 1201Mine honour be the knife's that makes my wound;
  5. 1202My shame be his that did my fame confound;
  6. 1203And all my fame that lives disbursed be
  7. 1204To those that live, and think no shame of me.
Stanza 173 explanation →
  1. 1205'Thou, Collatine, shalt oversee this will;
  2. 1206How was I overseen that thou shalt see it!
  3. 1207My blood shall wash the slander of mine ill;
  4. 1208My life's foul deed, my life's fair end shall free it.
  5. 1209Faint not, faint heart, but stoutly say 'So be it:'
  6. 1210Yield to my hand; my hand shall conquer thee:
  7. 1211Thou dead, both die, and both shall victors be.'
Stanza 174 explanation →
  1. 1212This Plot of death when sadly she had laid,
  2. 1213And wiped the brinish pearl from her bright eyes,
  3. 1214With untuned tongue she hoarsely calls her maid,
  4. 1215Whose swift obedience to her mistress hies;
  5. 1216For fleet-wing'd duty with thought's feathers flies.
  6. 1217Poor Lucrece' cheeks unto her maid seem so
  7. 1218As winter meads when sun doth melt their snow.
Stanza 175 explanation →
  1. 1219Her mistress she doth give demure good-morrow,
  2. 1220With soft-slow tongue, true mark of modesty,
  3. 1221And sorts a sad look to her lady's sorrow,
  4. 1222For why her face wore sorrow's livery;
  5. 1223But durst not ask of her audaciously
  6. 1224Why her two suns were cloud-eclipsed so,
  7. 1225Nor why her fair cheeks over-wash'd with woe.
Stanza 176 explanation →
  1. 1226But as the earth doth weep, the sun being set,
  2. 1227Each flower moisten'd like a melting eye;
  3. 1228Even so the maid with swelling drops gan wet
  4. 1229Her circled eyne, enforced by sympathy
  5. 1230Of those fair suns set in her mistress' sky,
  6. 1231Who in a salt-waved ocean quench their light,
  7. 1232Which makes the maid weep like the dewy night.
Stanza 177 explanation →
  1. 1233A pretty while these pretty creatures stand,
  2. 1234Like ivory conduits coral cisterns filling:
  3. 1235One justly weeps; the other takes in hand
  4. 1236No cause, but company, of her drops spilling:
  5. 1237Their gentle sex to weep are often willing;
  6. 1238Grieving themselves to guess at others' smarts,
  7. 1239And then they drown their eyes or break their hearts.
Stanza 178 explanation →
  1. 1240For men have marble, women waxen, minds,
  2. 1241And therefore are they form'd as marble will;
  3. 1242The weak oppress'd, the impression of strange kinds
  4. 1243Is form'd in them by force, by fraud, or skill:
  5. 1244Then call them not the authors of their ill,
  6. 1245No more than wax shall be accounted evil
  7. 1246Wherein is stamp'd the semblance of a devil.
Stanza 179 explanation →
  1. 1247Their smoothness, like a goodly champaign plain,
  2. 1248Lays open all the little worms that creep;
  3. 1249In men, as in a rough-grown grove, remain
  4. 1250Cave-keeping evils that obscurely sleep:
  5. 1251Through crystal walls each little mote will peep:
  6. 1252Though men can cover crimes with bold stern looks,
  7. 1253Poor women's faces are their own fault's books.
Stanza 180 explanation →
  1. 1254No man inveigh against the wither'd flower,
  2. 1255But chide rough winter that the flower hath kill'd:
  3. 1256Not that devour'd, but that which doth devour,
  4. 1257Is worthy blame. O, let it not be hild
  5. 1258Poor women's faults, that they are so fulfill'd
  6. 1259With men's abuses: those proud lords, to blame,
  7. 1260Make weak-made women tenants to their shame.
Stanza 181 explanation →
  1. 1261The precedent whereof in Lucrece view,
  2. 1262Assail'd by night with circumstances strong
  3. 1263Of present death, and shame that might ensue
  4. 1264By that her death, to do her husband wrong:
  5. 1265Such danger to resistance did belong,
  6. 1266That dying fear through all her body spread;
  7. 1267And who cannot abuse a body dead?
Stanza 182 explanation →
  1. 1268By this, mild patience bid fair Lucrece speak
  2. 1269To the poor counterfeit of her complaining:
  3. 1270'My girl,' quoth she, 'on what occasion break
  4. 1271Those tears from thee, that down thy cheeks are raining?
  5. 1272If thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining,
  6. 1273Know, gentle wench, it small avails my mood:
  7. 1274If tears could help, mine own would do me good.
Stanza 183 explanation →
  1. 1275“But tell me, girl, when went”—and there she stayed
  2. 1276Till after a deep groan—“Tarquin from hence?”
  3. 1277“Madam, ere I was up,” replied the maid,
  4. 1278“The more to blame my sluggard negligence.
  5. 1279Yet with the fault I thus far can dispense:
  6. 1280Myself was stirring ere the break of day,
  7. 1281And, ere I rose, was Tarquin gone away.
Stanza 184 explanation →
  1. 1282“But, lady, if your maid may be so bold,
  2. 1283She would request to know your heaviness.”
  3. 1284“O peace!” quoth Lucrece. “If it should be told,
  4. 1285The repetition cannot make it less;
  5. 1286For more it is than I can well express,
  6. 1287And that deep torture may be called a hell,
  7. 1288When more is felt than one hath power to tell.
Stanza 185 explanation →
  1. 1289“Go, get me hither paper, ink, and pen.
  2. 1290Yet save that labour, for I have them here.
  3. 1291What should I say?—One of my husband’s men
  4. 1292Bid thou be ready by and by to bear
  5. 1293A letter to my lord, my love, my dear.
  6. 1294Bid him with speed prepare to carry it;
  7. 1295The cause craves haste, and it will soon be writ.”
Stanza 186 explanation →
  1. 1296Her maid is gone, and she prepares to write,
  2. 1297First hovering o’er the paper with her quill.
  3. 1298Conceit and grief an eager combat fight;
  4. 1299What wit sets down is blotted straight with will;
  5. 1300This is too curious-good, this blunt and ill.
  6. 1301Much like a press of people at a door,
  7. 1302Throng her inventions, which shall go before.
Stanza 187 explanation →
  1. 1303At last she thus begins: “Thou worthy lord
  2. 1304Of that unworthy wife that greeteth thee,
  3. 1305Health to thy person! Next vouchsafe t’ afford,
  4. 1306If ever, love, thy Lucrece thou wilt see,
  5. 1307Some present speed to come and visit me.
  6. 1308So I commend me from our house in grief.
  7. 1309My woes are tedious, though my words are brief.”
Stanza 188 explanation →
  1. 1310Here folds she up the tenor of her woe,
  2. 1311Her certain sorrow writ uncertainly.
  3. 1312By this short schedule Collatine may know
  4. 1313Her grief, but not her grief’s true quality;
  5. 1314She dares not thereof make discovery,
  6. 1315Lest he should hold it her own gross abuse,
  7. 1316Ere she with blood had stained her stained excuse.
Stanza 189 explanation →
  1. 1317Besides, the life and feeling of her passion
  2. 1318She hoards, to spend when he is by to hear her;
  3. 1319When sighs and groans and tears may grace the fashion
  4. 1320Of her disgrace, the better so to clear her
  5. 1321From that suspicion which the world might bear her.
  6. 1322To shun this blot, she would not blot the letter
  7. 1323With words, till action might become them better.
Stanza 190 explanation →
  1. 1324To see sad sights moves more than hear them told,
  2. 1325For then the eye interprets to the ear
  3. 1326The heavy motion that it doth behold,
  4. 1327When every part a part of woe doth bear.
  5. 1328’Tis but a part of sorrow that we hear.
  6. 1329Deep sounds make lesser noise than shallow fords,
  7. 1330And sorrow ebbs, being blown with wind of words.
Stanza 191 explanation →
  1. 1331Her letter now is sealed, and on it writ
  2. 1332“At Ardea to my lord with more than haste.”
  3. 1333The post attends, and she delivers it,
  4. 1334Charging the sour-faced groom to hie as fast
  5. 1335As lagging fowls before the northern blast.
  6. 1336Speed more than speed but dull and slow she deems;
  7. 1337Extremely still urgeth such extremes.
Stanza 192 explanation →
  1. 1338The homely villain curtsies to her low,
  2. 1339And, blushing on her with a steadfast eye,
  3. 1340Receives the scroll without or yea or no,
  4. 1341And forth with bashful innocence doth hie.
  5. 1342But they whose guilt within their bosoms lie
  6. 1343Imagine every eye beholds their blame,
  7. 1344For Lucrece thought he blushed to see her shame,
Stanza 193 explanation →
  1. 1345When, silly groom! God wot, it was defect
  2. 1346Of spirit, life, and bold audacity.
  3. 1347Such harmless creatures have a true respect
  4. 1348To talk in deeds, while others saucily
  5. 1349Promise more speed, but do it leisurely.
  6. 1350Even so this pattern of the worn-out age
  7. 1351Pawned honest looks, but laid no words to gage.
Stanza 194 explanation →
  1. 1352His kindled duty kindled her mistrust,
  2. 1353That two red fires in both their faces blazed;
  3. 1354She thought he blushed, as knowing Tarquin’s lust,
  4. 1355And, blushing with him, wistly on him gazed.
  5. 1356Her earnest eye did make him more amazed.
  6. 1357The more she saw the blood his cheeks replenish,
  7. 1358The more she thought he spied in her some blemish.
Stanza 195 explanation →
  1. 1359But long she thinks till he return again,
  2. 1360And yet the duteous vassal scarce is gone.
  3. 1361The weary time she cannot entertain,
  4. 1362For now ’tis stale to sigh, to weep, to groan;
  5. 1363So woe hath wearied woe, moan tired moan,
  6. 1364That she her plaints a little while doth stay,
  7. 1365Pausing for means to mourn some newer way.
Stanza 196 explanation →
  1. 1366At last she calls to mind where hangs a piece
  2. 1367Of skilful painting, made for Priam’s Troy,
  3. 1368Before the which is drawn the power of Greece,
  4. 1369For Helen’s rape the city to destroy,
  5. 1370Threat’ning cloud-kissing Ilion with annoy;
  6. 1371Which the conceited painter drew so proud,
  7. 1372As heaven, it seemed, to kiss the turrets bowed.
Stanza 197 explanation →
  1. 1373A thousand lamentable objects there,
  2. 1374In scorn of Nature, Art gave lifeless life.
  3. 1375Many a dry drop seemed a weeping tear,
  4. 1376Shed for the slaughtered husband by the wife.
  5. 1377The red blood reeked to show the painter’s strife,
  6. 1378The dying eyes gleamed forth their ashy lights,
  7. 1379Like dying coals burnt out in tedious nights.
Stanza 198 explanation →
  1. 1380There might you see the labouring pioneer
  2. 1381Begrimed with sweat and smeared all with dust;
  3. 1382And from the towers of Troy there would appear
  4. 1383The very eyes of men through loop-holes thrust,
  5. 1384Gazing upon the Greeks with little lust.
  6. 1385Such sweet observance in this work was had,
  7. 1386That one might see those far-off eyes look sad.
Stanza 199 explanation →
  1. 1387In great commanders grace and majesty
  2. 1388You might behold, triumphing in their faces;
  3. 1389In youth, quick bearing and dexterity;
  4. 1390And here and there the painter interlaces
  5. 1391Pale cowards marching on with trembling paces,
  6. 1392Which heartless peasants did so well resemble,
  7. 1393That one would swear he saw them quake and tremble.
Stanza 200 explanation →
  1. 1394In Ajax and Ulysses, O, what art
  2. 1395Of physiognomy might one behold!
  3. 1396The face of either ciphered either’s heart;
  4. 1397Their face their manners most expressly told.
  5. 1398In Ajax’ eyes blunt rage and rigour rolled,
  6. 1399But the mild glance that sly Ulysses lent
  7. 1400Showed deep regard and smiling government.
Stanza 201 explanation →
  1. 1401There pleading might you see grave Nestor stand,
  2. 1402As ’twere encouraging the Greeks to fight,
  3. 1403Making such sober action with his hand
  4. 1404That it beguiled attention, charmed the sight.
  5. 1405In speech, it seemed, his beard, all silver white,
  6. 1406Wagged up and down, and from his lips did fly
  7. 1407Thin winding breath, which purled up to the sky.
Stanza 202 explanation →
  1. 1408About him were a press of gaping faces,
  2. 1409Which seemed to swallow up his sound advice,
  3. 1410All jointly list’ning, but with several graces,
  4. 1411As if some mermaid did their ears entice;
  5. 1412Some high, some low, the painter was so nice.
  6. 1413The scalps of many, almost hid behind,
  7. 1414To jump up higher seemed to mock the mind.
Stanza 203 explanation →
  1. 1415Here one man’s hand leaned on another’s head,
  2. 1416His nose being shadowed by his neighbour’s ear;
  3. 1417Here one being thronged bears back, all boll’n and red;
  4. 1418Another smothered seems to pelt and swear;
  5. 1419And in their rage such signs of rage they bear
  6. 1420As, but for loss of Nestor’s golden words,
  7. 1421It seemed they would debate with angry swords.
Stanza 204 explanation →
  1. 1422For much imaginary work was there,
  2. 1423Conceit deceitful, so compact, so kind,
  3. 1424That for Achilles’ image stood his spear
  4. 1425Griped in an armed hand; himself, behind,
  5. 1426Was left unseen, save to the eye of mind.
  6. 1427A hand, a foot, a face, a leg, a head,
  7. 1428Stood for the whole to be imagined.
Stanza 205 explanation →
  1. 1429And from the walls of strong-besieged Troy,
  2. 1430When their brave hope, bold Hector, marched to field,
  3. 1431Stood many Trojan mothers, sharing joy
  4. 1432To see their youthful sons bright weapons wield;
  5. 1433And to their hope they such odd action yield
  6. 1434That through their light joy seemed to appear,
  7. 1435Like bright things stained, a kind of heavy fear.
Stanza 206 explanation →
  1. 1436And from the strand of Dardan, where they fought,
  2. 1437To Simois’ reedy banks the red blood ran,
  3. 1438Whose waves to imitate the battle sought
  4. 1439With swelling ridges, and their ranks began
  5. 1440To break upon the galled shore, and then
  6. 1441Retire again till, meeting greater ranks,
  7. 1442They join, and shoot their foam at Simois’ banks.
Stanza 207 explanation →
  1. 1443To this well-painted piece is Lucrece come,
  2. 1444To find a face where all distress is stelled.
  3. 1445Many she sees where cares have carved some,
  4. 1446But none where all distress and dolour dwelled,
  5. 1447Till she despairing Hecuba beheld,
  6. 1448Staring on Priam’s wounds with her old eyes,
  7. 1449Which bleeding under Pyrrhus’ proud foot lies.
Stanza 208 explanation →
  1. 1450In her the painter had anatomized
  2. 1451Time’s ruin, beauty’s wrack, and grim care’s reign.
  3. 1452Her cheeks with chops and wrinkles were disguised;
  4. 1453Of what she was no semblance did remain.
  5. 1454Her blue blood, changed to black in every vein,
  6. 1455Wanting the spring that those shrunk pipes had fed,
  7. 1456Showed life imprisoned in a body dead.
Stanza 209 explanation →
  1. 1457On this sad shadow Lucrece spends her eyes,
  2. 1458And shapes her sorrow to the beldam’s woes,
  3. 1459Who nothing wants to answer her but cries
  4. 1460And bitter words to ban her cruel foes.
  5. 1461The painter was no god to lend her those,
  6. 1462And therefore Lucrece swears he did her wrong,
  7. 1463To give her so much grief, and not a tongue.
Stanza 210 explanation →
  1. 1464“Poor instrument,” quoth she, “without a sound,
  2. 1465I’ll tune thy woes with my lamenting tongue,
  3. 1466And drop sweet balm in Priam’s painted wound,
  4. 1467And rail on Pyrrhus that hath done him wrong,
  5. 1468And with my tears quench Troy that burns so long,
  6. 1469And with my knife scratch out the angry eyes
  7. 1470Of all the Greeks that are thine enemies.
Stanza 211 explanation →
  1. 1471“Show me the strumpet that began this stir,
  2. 1472That with my nails her beauty I may tear.
  3. 1473Thy heat of lust, fond Paris, did incur
  4. 1474This load of wrath that burning Troy doth bear;
  5. 1475Thy eye kindled the fire that burneth here,
  6. 1476And here in Troy, for trespass of thine eye,
  7. 1477The sire, the son, the dame, and daughter die.
Stanza 212 explanation →
  1. 1478“Why should the private pleasure of some one
  2. 1479Become the public plague of many moe?
  3. 1480Let sin, alone committed, light alone
  4. 1481Upon his head that hath transgressed so;
  5. 1482Let guiltless souls be freed from guilty woe.
  6. 1483For one’s offence why should so many fall,
  7. 1484To plague a private sin in general?
Stanza 213 explanation →
  1. 1485“Lo, here weeps Hecuba, here Priam dies,
  2. 1486Here manly Hector faints, here Troilus swounds;
  3. 1487Here friend by friend in bloody channel lies,
  4. 1488And friend to friend gives unadvised wounds,
  5. 1489And one man’s lust these many lives confounds.
  6. 1490Had doting Priam checked his son’s desire,
  7. 1491Troy had been bright with fame and not with fire.”
Stanza 214 explanation →
  1. 1492Here feelingly she weeps Troy’s painted woes,
  2. 1493For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,
  3. 1494Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes;
  4. 1495Then little strength rings out the doleful knell.
  5. 1496So Lucrece set a-work, sad tales doth tell
  6. 1497To pencilled pensiveness and coloured sorrow;
  7. 1498She lends them words, and she their looks doth borrow.
Stanza 215 explanation →
  1. 1499She throws her eyes about the painting round,
  2. 1500And who she finds forlorn she doth lament.
  3. 1501At last she sees a wretched image bound,
  4. 1502That piteous looks to Phrygian shepherds lent.
  5. 1503His face, though full of cares, yet showed content;
  6. 1504Onward to Troy with the blunt swains he goes,
  7. 1505So mild, that patience seemed to scorn his woes.
Stanza 216 explanation →
  1. 1506In him the painter laboured with his skill
  2. 1507To hide deceit and give the harmless show
  3. 1508An humble gait, calm looks, eyes wailing still,
  4. 1509A brow unbent that seemed to welcome woe,
  5. 1510Cheeks neither red nor pale, but mingled so
  6. 1511That blushing red no guilty instance gave,
  7. 1512Nor ashy pale the fear that false hearts have.
Stanza 217 explanation →
  1. 1513But, like a constant and confirmed devil,
  2. 1514He entertained a show so seeming just,
  3. 1515And therein so ensconced his secret evil,
  4. 1516That jealousy itself could not mistrust
  5. 1517False-creeping craft and perjury should thrust
  6. 1518Into so bright a day such black-faced storms,
  7. 1519Or blot with hell-born sin such saint-like forms.
Stanza 218 explanation →
  1. 1520The well-skilled workman this mild image drew
  2. 1521For perjured Sinon, whose enchanting story
  3. 1522The credulous Old Priam after slew;
  4. 1523Whose words like wildfire burnt the shining glory
  5. 1524Of rich-built Ilion, that the skies were sorry,
  6. 1525And little stars shot from their fixed places,
  7. 1526When their glass fell wherein they viewed their faces.
Stanza 219 explanation →
  1. 1527This picture she advisedly perused,
  2. 1528And chid the painter for his wondrous skill,
  3. 1529Saying some shape in Sinon’s was abused;
  4. 1530So fair a form lodged not a mind so ill.
  5. 1531And still on him she gazed, and gazing still,
  6. 1532Such signs of truth in his plain face she spied,
  7. 1533That she concludes the picture was belied.
Stanza 220 explanation →
  1. 1534“It cannot be,” quoth she, “that so much guile”—
  2. 1535She would have said “can lurk in such a look.”
  3. 1536But Tarquin’s shape came in her mind the while,
  4. 1537And from her tongue “can lurk” from “cannot” took.
  5. 1538“It cannot be” she in that sense forsook,
  6. 1539And turned it thus: “It cannot be, I find,
  7. 1540But such a face should bear a wicked mind.
Stanza 221 explanation →
  1. 1541“For even as subtle Sinon here is painted,
  2. 1542So sober-sad, so weary, and so mild,
  3. 1543As if with grief or travail he had fainted,
  4. 1544To me came Tarquin armed too, beguiled
  5. 1545With outward honesty, but yet defiled
  6. 1546With inward vice. As Priam him did cherish,
  7. 1547So did I Tarquin; so my Troy did perish.
Stanza 222 explanation →
  1. 1548“Look, look, how listening Priam wets his eyes,
  2. 1549To see those borrowed tears that Sinon sheds!
  3. 1550Priam, why art thou old and yet not wise?
  4. 1551For every tear he falls a Trojan bleeds.
  5. 1552His eye drops fire, no water thence proceeds;
  6. 1553Those round clear pearls of his that move thy pity,
  7. 1554Are balls of quenchless fire to burn thy city.
Stanza 223 explanation →
  1. 1555“Such devils steal effects from lightless hell,
  2. 1556For Sinon in his fire doth quake with cold,
  3. 1557And in that cold hot-burning fire doth dwell.
  4. 1558These contraries such unity do hold,
  5. 1559Only to flatter fools and make them bold;
  6. 1560So Priam’s trust false Sinon’s tears doth flatter,
  7. 1561That he finds means to burn his Troy with water.”
Stanza 224 explanation →
  1. 1562Here, all enraged, such passion her assails,
  2. 1563That patience is quite beaten from her breast.
  3. 1564She tears the senseless Sinon with her nails,
  4. 1565Comparing him to that unhappy guest
  5. 1566Whose deed hath made herself herself detest.
  6. 1567At last she smilingly with this gives o’er;
  7. 1568“Fool, fool!” quoth she, “his wounds will not be sore.”
Stanza 225 explanation →
  1. 1569Thus ebbs and flows the current of her sorrow,
  2. 1570And time doth weary time with her complaining.
  3. 1571She looks for night, and then she longs for morrow,
  4. 1572And both she thinks too long with her remaining.
  5. 1573Short time seems long in sorrow’s sharp sustaining.
  6. 1574Though woe be heavy, yet it seldom sleeps,
  7. 1575And they that watch see time how slow it creeps.
Stanza 226 explanation →
  1. 1576Which all this time hath overslipped her thought,
  2. 1577That she with painted images hath spent,
  3. 1578Being from the feeling of her own grief brought
  4. 1579By deep surmise of others’ detriment,
  5. 1580Losing her woes in shows of discontent.
  6. 1581It easeth some, though none it ever cured,
  7. 1582To think their dolour others have endured.
Stanza 227 explanation →
  1. 1583But now the mindful messenger, come back,
  2. 1584Brings home his lord and other company;
  3. 1585Who finds his Lucrece clad in mourning black,
  4. 1586And round about her tear-distained eye
  5. 1587Blue circles streamed, like rainbows in the sky.
  6. 1588These water-galls in her dim element
  7. 1589Foretell new storms to those already spent.
Stanza 228 explanation →
  1. 1590Which when her sad-beholding husband saw,
  2. 1591Amazedly in her sad face he stares.
  3. 1592Her eyes, though sod in tears, looked red and raw,
  4. 1593Her lively colour killed with deadly cares.
  5. 1594He hath no power to ask her how she fares;
  6. 1595Both stood like old acquaintance in a trance,
  7. 1596Met far from home, wond’ring each other’s chance.
Stanza 229 explanation →
  1. 1597At last he takes her by the bloodless hand,
  2. 1598And thus begins: “What uncouth ill event
  3. 1599Hath thee befall’n, that thou dost trembling stand?
  4. 1600Sweet love, what spite hath thy fair colour spent?
  5. 1601Why art thou thus attired in discontent?
  6. 1602Unmask, dear dear, this moody heaviness,
  7. 1603And tell thy grief, that we may give redress.”
Stanza 230 explanation →
  1. 1604Three times with sighs she gives her sorrow fire,
  2. 1605Ere once she can discharge one word of woe.
  3. 1606At length addressed to answer his desire,
  4. 1607She modestly prepares to let them know
  5. 1608Her honour is ta’en prisoner by the foe;
  6. 1609While Collatine and his consorted lords
  7. 1610With sad attention long to hear her words.
Stanza 231 explanation →
  1. 1611And now this pale swan in her wat’ry nest
  2. 1612Begins the sad dirge of her certain ending:
  3. 1613“Few words,” quoth she, “shall fit the trespass best,
  4. 1614Where no excuse can give the fault amending.
  5. 1615In me more woes than words are now depending;
  6. 1616And my laments would be drawn out too long,
  7. 1617To tell them all with one poor tired tongue.
Stanza 232 explanation →
  1. 1618“Then be this all the task it hath to say:
  2. 1619Dear husband, in the interest of thy bed
  3. 1620A stranger came, and on that pillow lay
  4. 1621Where thou wast wont to rest thy weary head;
  5. 1622And what wrong else may be imagined
  6. 1623By foul enforcement might be done to me,
  7. 1624From that, alas, thy Lucrece is not free.
Stanza 233 explanation →
  1. 1625“For in the dreadful dead of dark midnight,
  2. 1626With shining falchion in my chamber came
  3. 1627A creeping creature with a flaming light,
  4. 1628And softly cried ‘Awake, thou Roman dame,
  5. 1629And entertain my love; else lasting shame
  6. 1630On thee and thine this night I will inflict,
  7. 1631If thou my love’s desire do contradict.
Stanza 234 explanation →
  1. 1632“‘For some hard-favoured groom of thine,’ quoth he,
  2. 1633‘Unless thou yoke thy liking to my will,
  3. 1634I’ll murder straight, and then I’ll slaughter thee
  4. 1635And swear I found you where you did fulfil
  5. 1636The loathsome act of lust, and so did kill
  6. 1637The lechers in their deed. This act will be
  7. 1638My fame and thy perpetual infamy.’
Stanza 235 explanation →
  1. 1639“With this, I did begin to start and cry,
  2. 1640And then against my heart he sets his sword,
  3. 1641Swearing, unless I took all patiently,
  4. 1642I should not live to speak another word;
  5. 1643So should my shame still rest upon record,
  6. 1644And never be forgot in mighty Rome
  7. 1645The adulterate death of Lucrece and her groom.
Stanza 236 explanation →
  1. 1646“Mine enemy was strong, my poor self weak,
  2. 1647And far the weaker with so strong a fear.
  3. 1648My bloody judge forbade my tongue to speak;
  4. 1649No rightful plea might plead for justice there.
  5. 1650His scarlet lust came evidence to swear
  6. 1651That my poor beauty had purloined his eyes;
  7. 1652And when the judge is robbed, the prisoner dies.
Stanza 237 explanation →
  1. 1653“O, teach me how to make mine own excuse,
  2. 1654Or at the least, this refuge let me find:
  3. 1655Though my gross blood be stained with this abuse,
  4. 1656Immaculate and spotless is my mind;
  5. 1657That was not forced; that never was inclined
  6. 1658To accessary yieldings, but still pure
  7. 1659Doth in her poisoned closet yet endure.”
Stanza 238 explanation →
  1. 1660Lo, here the hopeless merchant of this loss,
  2. 1661With head declined and voice dammed up with woe,
  3. 1662With sad set eyes and wretched arms across,
  4. 1663From lips new-waxen pale begins to blow
  5. 1664The grief away that stops his answer so.
  6. 1665But wretched as he is, he strives in vain;
  7. 1666What he breathes out his breath drinks up again.
Stanza 239 explanation →
  1. 1667As through an arch the violent roaring tide
  2. 1668Outruns the eye that doth behold his haste,
  3. 1669Yet in the eddy boundeth in his pride
  4. 1670Back to the strait that forced him on so fast,
  5. 1671In rage sent out, recalled in rage, being past:
  6. 1672Even so his sighs, his sorrows make a saw,
  7. 1673To push grief on, and back the same grief draw.
Stanza 240 explanation →
  1. 1674Which speechless woe of his poor she attendeth,
  2. 1675And his untimely frenzy thus awaketh:
  3. 1676“Dear lord, thy sorrow to my sorrow lendeth
  4. 1677Another power; no flood by raining slaketh.
  5. 1678My woe too sensible thy passion maketh
  6. 1679More feeling-painful. Let it then suffice
  7. 1680To drown one woe, one pair of weeping eyes.
Stanza 241 explanation →
  1. 1681“And for my sake, when I might charm thee so,
  2. 1682For she that was thy Lucrece, now attend me:
  3. 1683Be suddenly revenged on my foe,
  4. 1684Thine, mine, his own. Suppose thou dost defend me
  5. 1685From what is past. The help that thou shalt lend me
  6. 1686Comes all too late, yet let the traitor die,
  7. 1687For sparing justice feeds iniquity.
Stanza 242 explanation →
  1. 1688“But ere I name him, you fair lords,” quoth she,
  2. 1689Speaking to those that came with Collatine,
  3. 1690“Shall plight your honourable faiths to me,
  4. 1691With swift pursuit to venge this wrong of mine;
  5. 1692For ’tis a meritorious fair design
  6. 1693To chase injustice with revengeful arms.
  7. 1694Knights, by their oaths, should right poor ladies’ harms.”
Stanza 243 explanation →
  1. 1695At this request, with noble disposition
  2. 1696Each present lord began to promise aid,
  3. 1697As bound in knighthood to her imposition,
  4. 1698Longing to hear the hateful foe bewrayed.
  5. 1699But she, that yet her sad task hath not said,
  6. 1700The protestation stops. “O, speak,” quoth she,
  7. 1701“How may this forced stain be wiped from me?
Stanza 244 explanation →
  1. 1702“What is the quality of my offence,
  2. 1703Being constrained with dreadful circumstance?
  3. 1704May my pure mind with the foul act dispense,
  4. 1705My low-declined honour to advance?
  5. 1706May any terms acquit me from this chance?
  6. 1707The poisoned fountain clears itself again,
  7. 1708And why not I from this compelled stain?
Stanza 245 explanation →
  1. 1709With this, they all at once began to say,
  2. 1710Her body’s stain her mind untainted clears,
  3. 1711While with a joyless smile she turns away
  4. 1712The face, that map which deep impression bears
  5. 1713Of hard misfortune, carved in it with tears.
  6. 1714“No, no,” quoth she, “no dame, hereafter living
  7. 1715By my excuse shall claim excuse’s giving.”
Stanza 246 explanation →
  1. 1716Here with a sigh, as if her heart would break,
  2. 1717She throws forth Tarquin’s name: “He, he,” she says,
  3. 1718But more than “he” her poor tongue could not speak;
  4. 1719Till after many accents and delays,
  5. 1720Untimely breathings, sick and short assays,
  6. 1721She utters this: “He, he, fair lords, ’tis he,
  7. 1722That guides this hand to give this wound to me.”
Stanza 247 explanation →
  1. 1723Even here she sheathed in her harmless breast
  2. 1724A harmful knife, that thence her soul unsheathed.
  3. 1725That blow did bail it from the deep unrest
  4. 1726Of that polluted prison where it breathed.
  5. 1727Her contrite sighs unto the clouds bequeathed
  6. 1728Her winged sprite, and through her wounds doth fly
  7. 1729Life’s lasting date from cancelled destiny.
Stanza 248 explanation →
  1. 1730Stone-still, astonished with this deadly deed,
  2. 1731Stood Collatine and all his lordly crew,
  3. 1732Till Lucrece’ father that beholds her bleed,
  4. 1733Himself on her self-slaughtered body threw,
  5. 1734And from the purple fountain Brutus drew
  6. 1735The murd’rous knife, and, as it left the place,
  7. 1736Her blood, in poor revenge, held it in chase;
Stanza 249 explanation →
  1. 1737And bubbling from her breast, it doth divide
  2. 1738In two slow rivers, that the crimson blood
  3. 1739Circles her body in on every side,
  4. 1740Who, like a late-sacked island, vastly stood
  5. 1741Bare and unpeopled in this fearful flood.
  6. 1742Some of her blood still pure and red remained,
  7. 1743And some looked black, and that false Tarquin stained.
Stanza 250 explanation →
  1. 1744About the mourning and congealed face
  2. 1745Of that black blood a wat’ry rigol goes,
  3. 1746Which seems to weep upon the tainted place;
  4. 1747And ever since, as pitying Lucrece’ woes,
  5. 1748Corrupted blood some watery token shows,
  6. 1749And blood untainted still doth red abide,
  7. 1750Blushing at that which is so putrified.
Stanza 251 explanation →
  1. 1751“Daughter, dear daughter,” old Lucretius cries,
  2. 1752“That life was mine which thou hast here deprived.
  3. 1753If in the child the father’s image lies,
  4. 1754Where shall I live now Lucrece is unlived?
  5. 1755Thou wast not to this end from me derived.
  6. 1756If children predecease progenitors,
  7. 1757We are their offspring, and they none of ours.
Stanza 252 explanation →
  1. 1758“Poor broken glass, I often did behold
  2. 1759In thy sweet semblance my old age new born;
  3. 1760But now that fair fresh mirror, dim and old,
  4. 1761Shows me a bare-boned death by time outworn.
  5. 1762O, from thy cheeks my image thou hast torn,
  6. 1763And shivered all the beauty of my glass,
  7. 1764That I no more can see what once I was!
Stanza 253 explanation →
  1. 1765“O time, cease thou thy course and last no longer,
  2. 1766If they surcease to be that should survive!
  3. 1767Shall rotten death make conquest of the stronger,
  4. 1768And leave the falt’ring feeble souls alive?
  5. 1769The old bees die, the young possess their hive.
  6. 1770Then live, sweet Lucrece, live again and see
  7. 1771Thy father die, and not thy father thee!”
Stanza 254 explanation →
  1. 1772By this starts Collatine as from a dream,
  2. 1773And bids Lucretius give his sorrow place;
  3. 1774And then in key-cold Lucrece’ bleeding stream
  4. 1775He falls, and bathes the pale fear in his face,
  5. 1776And counterfeits to die with her a space;
  6. 1777Till manly shame bids him possess his breath,
  7. 1778And live to be revenged on her death.
Stanza 255 explanation →
  1. 1779The deep vexation of his inward soul
  2. 1780Hath served a dumb arrest upon his tongue;
  3. 1781Who, mad that sorrow should his use control
  4. 1782Or keep him from heart-easing words so long,
  5. 1783Begins to talk; but through his lips do throng
  6. 1784Weak words, so thick come in his poor heart’s aid
  7. 1785That no man could distinguish what he said.
Stanza 256 explanation →
  1. 1786Yet sometime “Tarquin” was pronounced plain,
  2. 1787But through his teeth, as if the name he tore.
  3. 1788This windy tempest, till it blow up rain,
  4. 1789Held back his sorrow’s tide, to make it more.
  5. 1790At last it rains, and busy winds give o’er.
  6. 1791Then son and father weep with equal strife
  7. 1792Who should weep most, for daughter or for wife.
Stanza 257 explanation →
  1. 1793The one doth call her his, the other his,
  2. 1794Yet neither may possess the claim they lay,
  3. 1795The father says “She’s mine.” “O, mine she is,”
  4. 1796Replies her husband. “Do not take away
  5. 1797My sorrow’s interest; let no mourner say
  6. 1798He weeps for her, for she was only mine,
  7. 1799And only must be wailed by Collatine.”
Stanza 258 explanation →
  1. 1800“O,” quoth Lucretius, “I did give that life
  2. 1801Which she too early and too late hath spilled.”
  3. 1802“Woe, woe,” quoth Collatine, “she was my wife,
  4. 1803I owed her, and ’tis mine that she hath killed.”
  5. 1804“My daughter” and “my wife” with clamours filled
  6. 1805The dispersed air, who, holding Lucrece’ life,
  7. 1806Answered their cries, “my daughter” and “my wife”.
Stanza 259 explanation →
  1. 1807Brutus, who plucked the knife from Lucrece’ side,
  2. 1808Seeing such emulation in their woe,
  3. 1809Began to clothe his wit in state and pride,
  4. 1810Burying in Lucrece’ wound his folly’s show.
  5. 1811He with the Romans was esteemed so
  6. 1812As silly jeering idiots are with kings,
  7. 1813For sportive words and utt’ring foolish things.
Stanza 260 explanation →
  1. 1814But now he throws that shallow habit by,
  2. 1815Wherein deep policy did him disguise,
  3. 1816And armed his long-hid wits advisedly,
  4. 1817To check the tears in Collatinus’ eyes.
  5. 1818“Thou wronged lord of Rome,” quoth he, “arise!
  6. 1819Let my unsounded self, supposed a fool,
  7. 1820Now set thy long-experienced wit to school.
Stanza 261 explanation →
  1. 1821“Why, Collatine, is woe the cure for woe?
  2. 1822Do wounds help wounds, or grief help grievous deeds?
  3. 1823Is it revenge to give thyself a blow
  4. 1824For his foul act by whom thy fair wife bleeds?
  5. 1825Such childish humour from weak minds proceeds.
  6. 1826Thy wretched wife mistook the matter so,
  7. 1827To slay herself, that should have slain her foe.
Stanza 262 explanation →
  1. 1828“Courageous Roman, do not steep thy heart
  2. 1829In such relenting dew of lamentations,
  3. 1830But kneel with me, and help to bear thy part
  4. 1831To rouse our Roman gods with invocations,
  5. 1832That they will suffer these abominations,—
  6. 1833Since Rome herself in them doth stand disgraced,—
  7. 1834By our strong arms from forth her fair streets chased.
Stanza 263 explanation →
  1. 1835“Now, by the Capitol that we adore,
  2. 1836And by this chaste blood so unjustly stained,
  3. 1837By heaven’s fair sun that breeds the fat earth’s store,
  4. 1838By all our country rights in Rome maintained,
  5. 1839And by chaste Lucrece’ soul that late complained
  6. 1840Her wrongs to us, and by this bloody knife,
  7. 1841We will revenge the death of this true wife.”
Stanza 264 explanation →
  1. 1842This said, he struck his hand upon his breast,
  2. 1843And kissed the fatal knife, to end his vow;
  3. 1844And to his protestation urged the rest,
  4. 1845Who, wond’ring at him, did his words allow.
  5. 1846Then jointly to the ground their knees they bow,
  6. 1847And that deep vow which Brutus made before,
  7. 1848He doth again repeat, and that they swore.
Stanza 265 explanation →
  1. 1849When they had sworn to this advised doom,
  2. 1850They did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thence,
  3. 1851To show her bleeding body thorough Rome,
  4. 1852And so to publish Tarquin’s foul offence;
  5. 1853Which being done with speedy diligence,
  6. 1854The Romans plausibly did give consent
  7. 1855To Tarquin’s everlasting banishment.