'It shall be sparing and too full of riot, Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures; Pluck down the rich, enrich the poor with treasures; Make the young old, the old become a child. 'It shall suspect where is no cause of fear; And most deceiving when it seems most just; 'It shall be cause of war and dire events, Sith in his prime Death doth my love destroy, By this, the boy that by her side lay kill'd And says, within her bosom it shall dwell, She crops the stalk, and in the breach appears 'Poor flower,' quoth she, 'this was thy father's guise— Sweet issue of a more sweet-smelling sireFor every little grief to wet his eyes: To grow unto himself was his desire, And so 't is thine; but know, it is as good 'Here was thy father's bed, here in my breast; Wherein I will not kiss my sweet love's flower.' Thus weary of the world, away she hies, Holding their course to Paphos, where their queen THE RAPE OF LUCRECE. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY WRIOTHESLY, EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, AND BARON OF TICHFIELD. THE love I dedicate to your lordship is without end; whereof this pamphlet, without beginning, is but a superfluous moiety. The warrant I have of your honourable disposition, not the worth of my untutored lines, makes it assured of acceptance. What I have done is yours; what I have to do is yours; being part in all I have, devoted yours. Were my worth greater, my duty would show greater; meantime, as it is, it is bound to your lordship, to whom I wish long life, still lengthened with all happiness. Your lordship's in all duty, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. THE ARGUMENT. LUCIUS TARQUINIUS, for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus, after he had caused his own father-in-law Servius Tullius to be cruelly murdered, and, contrary to the Roman laws and customs, not requiring or staying for the people's suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom, went, accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea. During which siege the principal men of the army meeting one evening at the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son, in their discourses after supper every one commended the virtues of his own wife: among whom Collatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humour they all posted to Rome; and intending, by their secret and sudden arrival, to make trial of that which every one had before avouched, only Collatinus finds his wife, though it were late in the night, spinning amongst her maids: the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling, or in several disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. At that time Sectus Tarquinius being inflamed with Lucrece's beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present, departed with the rest back to the camp; from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself, and was, according to his estate, royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at Collatium. The same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber, violently ravished her, and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in this lamentable plight, hastily dispatcheth messengers, one to Rome for her father, another to the camp for Collatine. They came, the one accompanied with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius; and finding Lucrece attired in mourning habit, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She, first taking an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the actor, and whole manner of his dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which done, with one consent they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the Tarquins; and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted the people with the doer and manner of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the king: wherewith the people were so moved, that with one consent and a general acclamation the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from kings to consuls. FROM the besieged Ardea all in post, And girdle with embracing flames the waist Haply that name of 'chaste' unhappily set To praise the clear unmatched red and white Where mortal stars, as bright as heaven's beauties, For he the night before, in Tarquin's tent, O happiness enjoy'd but of a few! Beauty itself doth of itself persuade Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sovereignty His high-pitch'd thoughts, that meaner men should vaunt But some untimely thought did instigate When at Collatium this false lord arrived, Which of them both should underprop her fame: When virtue bragg'd, beauty would blush for shame Virtue would stain that o'er with silver white. But beauty, in that white intituled, From Venus' doves doth challenge that fair field: Their silver cheeks, and call'd it then their shield; When shame assail'd, the red should fence the white. This heraldry in Lucrece' face was seen, Their silent war of lilies and of roses, To those two armies that would let him go, Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue,- This earthly saint, adored by this devil, For unstain'd thoughts do seldom dream on evil; So guiltless she securely gives good cheer And reverend welcome to her princely guest, For that he colour'd with his high estate, But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store, That, cloy'd with much, he pineth still for more. But she, that never coped with stranger eyes, Writ in the glassy margents of such books: She touch'd no unknown baits, nor fear'd no hooks; More than his eyes were open'd to the light. He stories to her ears her husband's fame, And decks with praises Collatine's high name, With bruised arms and wreaths of victory: Her joy with heaved-up hand she doth express, Far from the purpose of his coming hither, For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed, With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night: Save thieves, and cares, and troubled minds, that wake. As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining: And when great treasure is the meed proposed, Those that much covet are with gain so fond, Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain, The aim of all is but to nurse the life With honour, wealth, and ease, in waning age; As life for honour in fell battle's rage; Honour for wealth; and oft that wealth doth cost So that in venturing ill we leave to be The things we are for that which we expect; In having much, torments us with defect The thing we have; and, all for want of wit, Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make, And for himself himself he must forsake: |