The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare/Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso/shakes/text/05/part-1

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To the Right Honourable Henry Wriothesley,
    Earl of Southampton, and Baron of Titchfield.

    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 everyone 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 everyone 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 Sextus Tarquinius,
    being inflamed with Lucrece' 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.


                           THE RAPE OF LUCRECE

From the besiegd Ardea all in post,
    Borne by the trustless wings of false desire,
    Lust-breathd Tarquin leaves the Roman host,
    And to Collatium bears the lightless fire
    Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire
        And girdle with embracing flames the waist
        Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece the chaste.    7

Haply that name of 'chaste' unhapp'ly set
    This bateless edge on his keen appetite,
    When Collatine unwisely did not let
    To praise the clear unmatchd red and white
    Which triumphed in that sky of his delight,
        Where mortal stars as bright as heaven's beauties
        With pure aspects did him peculiar duties.    14

For he the night before in Tarquin's tent
    Unlocked the treasure of his happy state:
    What priceless wealth the heavens had him lent
    In the possession of his beauteous mate;
    Reck'ning his fortune at such high-proud rate
        That kings might be espousd to more fame,
        But king nor peer to such a peerless dame.    21

O happiness enjoyed but of a few,
    And, if possessed, as soon decayed and done
    As is the morning's silver melting dew
    Against the golden splendour of the sun-
    An expired date cancelled ere well begun:
        Honour and beauty in the owner's arms
        Are weakly fortressed from a world of harms.    28

Beauty itself doth of itself persuade
    The eyes of men without an orator;
    What needeth then apology be made,
    To set forth that which is so singular?
    Or why is Collatine the publisher
        Of that rich jewel he should keep unknown
        From thievish ears, because it is his own?    35

Perchance his boast of Lucrece' sov'reignty
    Suggested this proud issue of a king;
    For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be.
    Perchance that envy of so rich a thing,
    Braving compare, disdainfully did sting
        His high-pitched thoughts, that meaner men should vaunt
        That golden hap which their superiors want.    42

But some untimely thought did instigate
    His all-too-timeless speed, if none of those.
    His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state,
    Neglected all, with swift intent he goes
    To quench the coal which in his liver glows.
        O rash false heat, wrapped in repentant cold,
        Thy hasty spring still blasts, and ne'er grows old!    49

When at Collatium this false lord arrived,
    Well was he welcomed by the Roman dame,
    Within whose face beauty and virtue strived
    Which of them both should underprop her fame:
    When virtue bragged, beauty would blush for shame;
        When beauty boasted blushes, in despite
        Virtue would stain that o'er with silver white.    56

But beauty, in that white entituld
    From Venus' doves, doth challenge that fair field;
    Then virtue claims from beauty beauty's red,
    Which virtue gave the golden age to gild
    Their silver cheeks, and called it then their shield;
        Teaching them thus to use it in the fight-
        When shame assailed, the red should fence the white.    63

This heraldry in Lucrece' face was seen,
    Argued by beauty's red and virtue's white;
    Of either's colour was the other queen,
    Proving from world's minority their right;
    Yet their ambition makes them still to fight,
        The sovereignty of either being so great
        That oft they interchange each other's seat.    70

This silent war of lilies and of roses,
    Which Tarquin viewed in her fair face's field,
    In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses;
    Where, lest between them both it should be killed,
    The coward captive vanquishd doth yield
        To those two armies that would let him go
        Rather than triumph in so false a foe.    77

Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue
    - The niggard prodigal that praised her so-
    In that high task hath done her beauty wrong,
    Which far exceeds his barren skill to show;
    Therefore that praise which Collatine doth owe
        Enchanted Tarquin answers with surmise,
        In silent wonder of still-gazing eyes.    84

This earthly saint adord by this devil
    Little suspecteth the false worshipper,
    (For unstained thoughts do seldom dream on evil;
    Birds never limed no secret bushes fear)
    So guiltless she securely gives good cheer
        And reverend welcome to her princely guest,
        Whose inward ill no outward harm expressed;    91

For that he coloured with his high estate,
    Hiding base sin in pleats of majesty,
    That nothing in him seemed inordinate
    Save sometime too much wonder of his eye,
    Which having all, all could not satisfy,
        But poorly rich, so wanteth in his store
        That cloyed with much he pineth still for more.    98

But she that never coped with stranger eyes
    Could pick no meaning from their parling looks,
    Nor read the subtle-shining secrecies
    Writ in the glassy margents of such books.
    She touched no unknown baits, nor feared no hooks;
        Nor could she moralize his wanton sight
        More than his eyes were opened to the light.    105

He stories to her ears her husband's fame
    Won in the fields of fruitful Italy,
    And decks with praises Collatine's high name
    Made glorious by his manly chivalry
    With bruisd arms and wreaths of victory.
        Her joy with heaved-up hand she doth express,
        And wordless so greets heaven for his success.    112

Far from the purpose of his coming thither
    He makes excuses for his being there;
    No cloudy show of stormy blust'ring weather
    Doth yet in his fair welkin once appear,
    Till sable night, mother of dread and fear,
        Upon the world dim darkness doth display,
        And in her vaulty prison stows the day.    119

For then is Tarquin brought unto his bed,
    Intending weariness with heavy sprite;
    For after supper long he questiond
    With modest Lucrece, and wore out the night.
    Now leaden slumber with life's strength doth fight,
        And everyone to rest himself betakes,
        Save thieves and cares and troubled minds that wakes.    126

As one of which doth Tarquin lie revolving
    The sundry dangers of his will's obtaining;
    Yet ever to obtain his will resolving,
    Though weak-built hopes persuade him to abstaining.
    Despair to gain doth traffic oft for gaining,
        And when great treasure is the meed proposed,
        Though death be adjunct, there's no death supposed.    133

Those that much covet are with gain so fond
    That what they have not, that which they possess,
    They scatter and unloose it from their bond;
    And so, by hoping more they have but less,
    Or, gaining more, the profit of excess
        Is but to surfeit, and such griefs sustain
        That they prove bankrupt in this poor-rich gain.    140

The aim of all is but to nurse the life
    With honour, wealth, and ease in waning age;
    And in this aim there is such thwarting strife
    That one for all or all for one we gage:
    As life for honour in fell battle's rage,
        Honour for wealth-and oft that wealth doth cost
        The death of all, and all together lost.    147

So that in vent'ring ill we leave to be
    The things we are for that which we expect;
    And this ambitious foul infirmity,
    In having much, torments us with defect
    Of that we have; so then we do neglect
        The thing we have, and all for want of wit
        Make something nothing by augmenting it.    154

Such hazard now must doting Tarquin make,
    Pawning his honour to obtain his lust;
    And for himself himself he must forsake.
    Then where is truth if there be no self-trust?
    When shall he think to find a stranger just,
        When he himself himself confounds, betrays
        To sland'rous tongues and wretched hateful days?    161

Now stole upon the time the dead of night,
    When heavy sleep had closed up mortal eyes;
    No comfortable star did lend his light,
    No noise but owls' and wolves' death-boding cries;
    Now serves the season that they may surprise
        The silly lambs. Pure thoughts are dead and still,
        While lust and murder wakes to stain and kill.    168

And now this lustful lord leaped from his bed
    - Throwing his mantle rudely o'er his arm-
    Is madly tossed between desire and dread:
    Th' one sweetly flatters, th' other feareth harm;
    But honest fear, bewitched with lust's foul charm,
        Doth too too oft betake him to retire,
        Beaten away by brainsick rude desire.    175

His falchion on a flint he softly smiteth,
    That from the cold stone sparks of fire do fly;
    Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,
    Which must be lodestar to his lustful eye;
    And to the flame thus speaks advisdly:
        "As from this cold flint I enforced this fire,
        So Lucrece must I force to my desire."    182

Here pale with fear he doth premeditate
    The dangers of his loathsome enterprise,
    And in his inward mind he doth debate
    What following sorrow may on this arise;
    Then, looking scornfully, he doth despise
        His naked armour of still-slaughtered lust,
        And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust:    189

"Fair torch, burn out thy light, and lend it not
    To darken her whose light excelleth thine;
    And die, unhallowed thoughts, before you blot
    With your uncleanness that which is divine;
    Offer pure incense to so pure a shrine;
        Let fair humanity abhor the deed
        That spots and stains love's modest snow-white weed.    196

"O shame to knighthood and to shining arms!
    O foul dishonour to my household's grave!
    O impious act including all foul harms!
    A martial man to be soft fancy's slave!
    True valour still a true respect should have;
        Then my digression is so vile, so base,
        That it will live engraven in my face.    203

"Yea, though I die, the scandal will survive
    And be an eye-sore in my golden coat;
    Some loathsome dash the herald will contrive,
    To cipher me how fondly I did dote,
    That my posterity, shamed with the note,
        Shall curse my bones, and hold it for no sin
        To wish that I their father had not been.    210

"What win I if I gain the thing I seek?
    A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.
    Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?
    Or sells eternity to get a toy?
    For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
        Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
        Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?    217

"If Collatinus dream of my intent,
    Will he not wake, and in a desp'rate rage
    Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent?-
    This siege that hath engirt his marriage,
    This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,
        This dying virtue, this surviving shame,
        Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame.    224

"O what excuse can my invention make
    When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed?
    Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake,
    Mine eyes forgo their light, my false heart bleed?
    The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed;
        And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly,
        But coward-like with trembling terror die.    231

"Had Collatinus killed my son or sire,
    Or lain in ambush to betray my life,
    Or were he not my dear friend, this desire
    Might have excuse to work upon his wife,
    As in revenge or quittal of such strife;
        But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,
        The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.    238

"Shameful it is-ay, if the fact be known;
    Hateful it is-there is no hate in loving;
    I'll beg her love-but she is not her own:
    The worst is but denial and reproving-
    My will is strong past reason's weak removing.
        Who fears a sentence or an old man's saw
        Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe."    245

Thus graceless holds he disputation
    'Tween frozen conscience and hot-burning will,
    And with good thoughts makes dispensation,
    Urging the worser sense for vantage still;
    Which in a moment doth confound and kill
        All pure effects, and doth so far proceed
        That what is vile shows like a virtuous deed.    252

Quoth he, "She took me kindly by the hand,
    And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes,
    Fearing some hard news from the warlike band
    Where her belovd Collatinus lies.
    O how her fear did make her colour rise!
        First red as roses that on lawn we lay,
        Then white as lawn, the roses took away.    259

"And how her hand, in my hand being locked,
    Forced it to tremble with her loyal fear!
    Which struck her sad, and then it faster rocked,
    Until her husband's welfare she did hear;
    Whereat she smild with so sweet a cheer
        That had Narcissus seen her as she stood,
        Self-love had never drowned him in the flood.    266

"Why hunt I then for colour or excuses?
    All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth;
    Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;
    Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth.
    Affection is my captain, and he leadeth;
        And when his gaudy banner is displayed,
        The coward fights, and will not be dismayed.    273

"Then, childish fear, avaunt! Debating, die!
    Respect and reason, wait on wrinkled age!
    My heart shall never countermand mine eye.
    Sad pause and deep regard beseems the sage;
    My part is youth, and beats these from the stage.
        Desire my pilot is, beauty my prize;
        Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?"    280

As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear
    Is almost choked by unresisted lust.
    Away he steals with open list'ning ear,
    Full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust;
    Both which, as servitors to the unjust,
        So cross him with their opposite persuasion
        That now he vows a league, and now invasion.    287

Within his thought her heavenly image sits,
    And in the selfsame seat sits Collatine.
    That eye which looks on her confounds his wits;
    That eye which him beholds, as more divine,
    Unto a view so false will not incline,
        But with a pure appeal seeks to the heart,
        Which once corrupted takes the worser part:    294

And therein heartens up his servile powers,
    Who, flattered by their leader's jocund show,
    Stuff up his lust, as minutes fill up hours;
    And as their captain, so their pride doth grow,
    Paying more slavish tribute than they owe.
        By reprobate desire thus madly led,
        The Roman lord marcheth to Lucrece' bed.    301

The locks between her chamber and his will,
    Each one by him enforced, retires his ward;
    But as they open they all rate his ill,
    Which drives the creeping thief to some regard.
    The threshold grates the door to have him heard;
        Night-wand'ring weasels shriek to see him there:
        They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.    308

As each unwilling portal yields him way,
    Through little vents and crannies of the place
    The wind wars with his torch to make him stay,
    And blows the smoke of it into his face,
    Extinguishing his conduct in this case;
        But his hot heart, which fond desire doth scorch,
        Puffs forth another wind that fires the torch.    315

And being lighted, by the light he spies
    Lucretia's glove, wherein her needle sticks;
    He takes it from the rushes where it lies,
    And griping it, the needle his finger pricks,
    As who should say "This glove to wanton tricks
        Is not inured. Return again in haste;
        Thou seest our mistress' ornaments are chaste".    322

But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him;
    He in the worst sense consters their denial:
    The doors, the wind, the glove, that did delay him,
    He takes for accidental things of trial,
    Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial,
        Who with a ling'ring stay his course doth let
        Till every minute pays the hour his debt.    329

"So, so," quoth he, "these lets attend the time,
    Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring,
    To add a more rejoicing to the prime,
    And give the sneapd birds more cause to sing.
    Pain pays the income of each precious thing;
        Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves and sands
        The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands."    336

Now is he come unto the chamber door
    That shuts him from the heaven of his thought,
    Which with a yielding latch, and with no more,
    Hath barred him from the blessd thing he sought.
    So from himself impiety hath wrought
        That for his prey to pray he doth begin,
        As if the heavens should countenance his sin.    343

But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,
    Having solicited th' eternal power
    That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair,
    And they would stand auspicious to the hour,
    Even there he starts: quoth he, "I must deflower:-
        The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact;
        How can they then assist me in the act?    350

"Then love and fortune be my gods, my guide!
    My will is backed with resolution.
    Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried;
    The blackest sin is cleared with absolution.
    Against love's fire fear's frost hath dissolution.
        The eye of heaven is out, and misty night
        Covers the shame that follows sweet delight."    357

This said, his guilty hand plucked up the latch,
    And with his knee the door he opens wide.
    The dove sleeps fast that this night-owl will catch:
    Thus treason works ere traitors be espied.
    Who sees the lurking serpent steps aside,
        But she sound sleeping, fearing no such thing,
        Lies at the mercy of his mortal sting.    364

Into the chamber wickedly he stalks,
    And gazeth on her yet unstaind bed.
    The curtains being close, about he walks,
    Rolling his greedy eyeballs in his head;
    By their high treason is his heart misled,
        Which gives the watchword to his hand full soon
        To draw the cloud that hides the silver moon.    371

Look as the fair and fiery-pointed sun
    Rushing from forth a cloud bereaves our sight,
    Even so, the curtain drawn, his eyes begun
    To wink, being blinded with a greater light.
    Whether it is that she reflects so bright
        That dazzleth them, or else some shame supposed,
        But blind they are, and keep themselves enclosed.    378

O had they in that darksome prison died!
    Then had they seen the period of their ill;
    Then Collatine again by Lucrece' side
    In his clear bed might have reposd still.
    But they must ope, this blessd league to kill;
        And holy-thoughted Lucrece to their sight
        Must sell her joy, her life, her world's delight.    385

Her lily hand her rosy cheek lies under,
    Coz'ning the pillow of a lawful kiss;
    Who therefore angry seems to part in sunder,
    Swelling on either side to want his bliss;
    Between whose hills her head entombd is,
        Where like a virtuous monument she lies,
        To be admired of lewd unhallowed eyes.    392

Without the bed her other fair hand was,
    On the green coverlet; whose perfect white
    Showed like an April daisy on the grass,
    With pearly sweat resembling dew of night.
    Her eyes like marigolds had sheathed their light,
        And canopied in darkness sweetly lay
        Till they might open to adorn the day.    399

Her hair like golden threads played with her breath,
    - O modest wantons, wanton modesty!-
    Showing life's triumph in the map of death,
    And death's dim look in life's mortality.
    Each in her sleep themselves so beautify,
        As if between them twain there were no strife,
        But that life lived in death, and death in life.    406

Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue,
    A pair of maiden worlds unconquerd,
    Save of their lord no bearing yoke they knew,
    And him by oath they truly honourd.
    These worlds in Tarquin new ambition bred,
        Who like a foul usurper went about
        From this fair throne to heave the owner out.    413

What could he see but mightily he noted?
    What did he note but strongly he desired?
    What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,
    And in his will his wilful eye he tired.
    With more than admiration he admired
        Her azure veins, her alabaster skin,
        Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.    420

As the grim lion fawneth o'er his prey,
    Sharp hunger by the conquest satisfied,
    So o'er this sleeping soul doth Tarquin stay,
    His rage of lust by gazing qualified-
    Slacked, not suppressed; for standing by her side,
        His eye, which late this mutiny restrains,
        Unto a greater uproar tempts his veins;    427

And they like straggling slaves for pillage fighting,
    Obdurate vassals fell exploits effecting,
    In bloody death and ravishment delighting,
    Nor children's tears nor mothers' groans respecting,
    Swell in their pride, the onset still expecting.
        Anon his beating heart, alarum striking,
        Gives the hot charge, and bids them do their liking.    434

His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,
    His eye commends the leading to his hand;
    His hand, as proud of such a dignity,
    Smoking with pride, marched on to make his stand
    On her bare breast, the heart of all her land;
        Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,
        Left their round turrets destitute and pale.    441

They, must'ring to the quiet cabinet
    Where their dear governess and lady lies,
    Do tell her she is dreadfully beset,
    And fright her with confusion of their cries.
    She, much amazed, breaks ope her locked-up eyes,
        Who, peeping forth this tumult to behold,
        Are by his flaming torch dimmed and controlled.    448

Imagine her as one in dead of night
    From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking
    That thinks she hath beheld some ghastly sprite,
    Whose grim aspect sets every joint a-shaking;
    What terror 'tis!-but she in worser taking,
        From sleep disturbd, heedfully doth view
        The sight which makes supposd terror true.    455

Wrapped and confounded in a thousand fears,
    Like to a new-killed bird she trembling lies;
    She dares not look, yet, winking, there appears
    Quick-shifting antics, ugly in her eyes.
    Such shadows are the weak brain's forgeries,
        Who, angry that the eyes fly from their lights,
        In darkness daunts them with more dreadful sights.    462

His hand that yet remains upon her breast
    - Rude ram, to batter such an ivory wall!-
    May feel her heart, poor citizen, distressed,
    Wounding itself to death, rise up and fall,
    Beating her bulk, that his hand shakes withal.
        This moves in him more rage and lesser pity
        To make the breach and enter this sweet city.    469

First like a trumpet doth his tongue begin
    To sound a parley to his heartless foe,
    Who o'er the white sheet peers her whiter chin,
    The reason of this rash alarm to know,
    Which he by dumb demeanour seeks to show;
        But she with vehement prayers urgeth still
        Under what colour he commits this ill.    476

Thus he replies: "The colour in thy face,
    That even for anger makes the lily pale
    And the red rose blush at her own disgrace,
    Shall plead for me and tell my loving tale.
    Under that colour am I come to scale
        Thy never-conquered fort. The fault is thine,
        For those thine eyes betray thee unto mine.    483

"Thus I forestall thee, if thou mean to chide:
    Thy beauty hath ensnared thee to this night,
    Where thou with patience must my will abide,
    My will that marks thee for my earth's delight,
    Which I to conquer sought with all my might;
        But as reproof and reason beat it dead,
        By thy bright beauty was it newly bred.    490

"I see what crosses my attempt will bring;
    I know what thorns the growing rose defends;
    I think the honey guarded with a sting;
    All this beforehand counsel comprehends.
    But will is deaf, and hears no heedful friends;
        Only he hath an eye to gaze on beauty,
        And dotes on what he looks, 'gainst law or duty.    497

"I have debated even in my soul
    What wrong, what shame, what sorrow I shall breed;
    But nothing can affection's course control,
    Or stop the headlong fury of his speed.
    I know repentant tears ensue the deed,
        Reproach, disdain, and deadly enmity;
        Yet strive I to embrace mine infamy."    504

This said, he shakes aloft his Roman blade,
    Which like a falcon tow'ring in the skies
    Coucheth the fowl below with his wings' shade,
    Whose crooked beak threats, if he mount he dies.
    So under his insulting falchion lies
        Harmless Lucretia, marking what he tells
        With trembling fear, as fowl hear falcons' bells.    511

"Lucrece," quoth he "this night I must enjoy thee.
    If thou deny, then force must work my way,
    For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee;
    That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay,
    To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;
        And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,
        Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him.    518

"So thy surviving husband shall remain
    The scornful mark of every open eye;
    Thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain,
    Thy issue blurred with nameless bastardy;
    And thou, the author of their obloquy,
        Shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes
        And sung by children in succeeding times.    525

"But if thou yield, I rest thy secret friend:
    The fault unknown is as a thought unacted;
    A little harm done to a great good end
    For lawful policy remains enacted.
    The poisonous simple sometime is compacted
        In a pure compound; being so applied,
        His venom in effect is purified.    532

"Then for thy husband and thy children's sake
    Tender my suit; bequeath not to their lot
    The shame that from them no device can take,
    The blemish that will never be forgot,
    Worse than a slavish wipe or birth-hour's blot;
        For marks descried in men's nativity
        Are nature's faults, not their own infamy."    539

Here with a cockatrice' dead-killing eye
    He rouseth up himself, and makes a pause;
    While she, the picture of pure piety,
    Like a white hind under the gripe's sharp claws,
    Pleads in a wilderness where are no laws
        To the rough beast that knows no gentle right,
        Nor aught obeys but his foul appetite.    546

But when a black-faced cloud the world doth threat,
    In his dim mist th' aspiring mountains hiding,
    From earth's dark womb some gentle gust doth get,
    Which blow these pitchy vapours from their biding,
    Hind'ring their present fall by this dividing;
        So his unhallowed haste her words delays,
        And moody Pluto winks while Orpheus plays.    553

Yet, foul night-waking cat, he doth but dally,
    While in his holdfast foot the weak mouse panteth.
    Her sad behaviour feeds his vulture folly,
    A swallowing gulf that even in plenty wanteth.
    His ear her prayers admits, but his heart granteth
        No penetrable entrance to her plaining:
        Tears harden lust, though marble wear with raining.    560

Her pity-pleading eyes are sadly fixed
    In the remorseless wrinkles of his face;
    Her modest eloquence with sighs is mixed,
    Which to her oratory adds more grace.
    She puts the period often from his place,
        And 'midst the sentence so her accent breaks
        That twice she doth begin ere once she speaks.    567

She conjures him by high almighty Jove,
    By knighthood, gentry, and sweet friendship's oath,
    By her untimely tears, her husband's love,
    By holy human law and common troth,
    By heaven and earth, and all the power of both,
        That to his borrowed bed he make retire,
        And stoop to honour, not to foul desire.    574

Quoth she "Reward not hospitality
    With such black payment as thou hast pretended;
    Mud not the fountain that gave drink to thee;
    Mar not the thing that cannot be amended;
    End thy ill aim before thy shoot be ended.
        He is no woodman that doth bend his bow
        To strike a poor unseasonable doe.    581

"My husband is thy friend-for his sake spare me;
    Thyself art mighty-for thine own sake leave me;
    Myself a weakling-do not then ensnare me;
    Thou look'st not like deceit-do not deceive me.
    My sighs like whirlwinds labour hence to heave thee.
        If ever man were moved with woman's moans,
        Be movd with my tears, my sighs, my groans.    588

"All which together, like a troubled ocean,
    Beat at thy rocky and wrack-threat'ning heart,
    To soften it with their continual motion;
    For stones dissolved to water do convert.
    O, if no harder than a stone thou art,
        Melt at my tears and be compassionate:
        Soft pity enters at an iron gate.    595

"In Tarquin's likeness I did entertain thee:
    Hast thou put on his shape to do him shame?
    To all the host of heaven I complain me
    Thou wrong'st his honour, wound'st his princely name.
    Thou art not what thou seem'st; and if the same,
        Thou seem'st not what thou art, a god, a king;
        For kings like gods should govern everything.    602

"How will thy shame be seeded in thine age
    When thus thy vices bud before thy spring?
    If in thy hope thou dar'st do such outrage,
    What dar'st thou not when once thou art a king?
    O be remembered, no outrageous thing
        From vassal actors can be wiped away;
        Then kings' misdeeds cannot be hid in clay.    609

"This deed will make thee only loved for fear,
    But happy monarchs still are feared for love.
    With foul offenders thou perforce must bear,
    When they in thee the like offences prove.
    If but for fear of this, thy will remove;
        For princes are the glass, the school, the book,
        Where subjects' eyes do learn, do read, do look.    616

"And wilt thou be the school where lust shall learn?
    Must he in thee read lectures of such shame?
    Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern
    Authority for sin, warrant for blame,
    To privilege dishonour in thy name?
        Thou back'st reproach against long-living laud,
        And mak'st fair reputation but a bawd.    623

"Hast thou command? By him that gave it thee,
    From a pure heart command thy rebel will;
    Draw not thy sword to guard iniquity,
    For it was lent thee all that brood to kill.
    Thy princely office how canst thou fulfil
        When patterned by thy fault foul sin may say
        He learned to sin, and thou didst teach the way?    630

"Think but how vile a spectacle it were
    To view thy present trespass in another.
    Men's faults do seldom to themselves appear;
    Their own transgressions partially they smother.
    This guilt would seem death-worthy in thy brother.
        O how are they wrapped in with infamies
        That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!    637

"To thee, to thee, my heaved-up hands appeal,
    Not to seducing lust, thy rash relier.
    I sue for exiled majesty's repeal;
    Let him return, and flatt'ring thoughts retire.
    His true respect will prison false desire,
        And wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne,
        That thou shalt see thy state, and pity mine."    644

"Have done," quoth he "my uncontrolld tide
    Turns not, but swells the higher by this let.
    Small lights are soon blown out, huge fires abide,
    And with the wind in greater fury fret.
    The petty streams that pay a daily debt
        To their salt sovereign, with their fresh falls' haste
        Add to his flow, but alter not his taste."    651

"Thou art" quoth she "a sea, a sovereign king;
    And lo there falls into thy boundless flood
    Black lust, dishonour, shame, misgoverning,
    Who seek to stain the ocean of thy blood.
    If all these petty ills shall change thy good,
        Thy sea within a puddle's womb is hearsed,
        And not the puddle in thy sea dispersed.    658

"So shall these slaves be king, and thou their slave:
    Thou nobly base, they basely dignified;
    Thou their fair life, and they thy fouler grave;
    Thou loathd in their shame, they in thy pride.
    The lesser thing should not the greater hide:
        The cedar stoops not to the base shrub's foot,
        But low shrubs wither at the cedar's root.    665

"So let thy thoughts, low vassals to thy state-"
    "No more," quoth he "by heaven, I will not hear thee.
    Yield to my love; if not, enforcd hate
    Instead of love's coy touch shall rudely tear thee.
    That done, despitefully I mean to bear thee
        Unto the base bed of some rascal groom,
        To be thy partner in this shameful doom."    672

This said, he sets his foot upon the light,
    For light and lust are deadly enemies:
    Shame folded up in blind concealing night,
    When most unseen, then most doth tyrannize.
    The wolf hath seized his prey, the poor lamb cries,
        Till with her own white fleece her voice controlled
        Entombs her outcry in her lips' sweet fold;    679

For with the nightly linen that she wears
    He pens her piteous clamours in her head,
    Cooling his hot face in the chastest tears
    That ever modest eyes with sorrow shed.
    O that prone lust should stain so pure a bed!
        The spots whereof could weeping purify,
        Her tears should drop on them perpetually.    686

But she hath lost a dearer thing than life,
    And he hath won what he would lose again.
    This forcd league doth force a further strife;
    This momentary joy breeds months of pain;
    This hot desire converts to cold disdain.
        Pure chastity is rifled of her store,
        And lust, the thief, far poorer than before.    693

Look as the full-fed hound or gorgd hawk,
    Unapt for tender smell or speedy flight,
    Make slow pursuit, or altogether balk
    The prey wherein by nature they delight,
    So surfeit-taking Tarquin fares this night:
        His taste delicious, in digestion souring,
        Devours his will that lived by foul devouring.    700

O deeper sin than bottomless conceit
    Can comprehend in still imagination!
    Drunken desire must vomit his receipt,
    Ere he can see his own abomination.
    While lust is in his pride no exclamation
        Can curb his heat or rein his rash desire,
        Till, like a jade, self-will himself doth tire.    707

And then with lank and lean discoloured cheek,
    With heavy eye, knit brow, and strengthless pace,
    Feeble desire, all recreant, poor, and meek,
    Like to a bankrupt beggar wails his case.
    The flesh being proud, desire doth fight with grace,
        For there it revels; and when that decays
        The guilty rebel for remission prays.    714

So fares it with this faultful lord of Rome,
    Who this accomplishment so hotly chased;
    For now against himself he sounds this doom,
    That through the length of times he stands disgraced.
    Besides, his soul's fair temple is defaced,
        To whose weak ruins muster troops of cares
        To ask the spotted princess how she fares.    721

She says her subjects with foul insurrection
    Have battered down her consecrated wall,
    And by their mortal fault brought in subjection
    Her immortality, and made her thrall
    To living death and pain perpetual;
        Which in her prescience she controlld still,
        But her foresight could not forestall their will.    728

Ev'n in this thought through the dark night he stealeth,
    A captive victor that hath lost in gain,
    Bearing away the wound that nothing healeth,
    The scar that will despite of cure remain;
    Leaving his spoil perplexed in greater pain.
        She bears the load of lust he left behind,
        And he the burden of a guilty mind.    735

He like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence,
    She like a wearied lamb lies panting there.
    He scowls, and hates himself for his offence;
    She, desperate, with her nails her flesh doth tear.
    He faintly flies, sweating with guilty fear;
        She stays, exclaiming on the direful night;
        He runs, and chides his vanished loathed delight.    742

He thence departs a heavy convertite,
    She there remains a hopeless castaway.
    He in his speed looks for the morning light,
    She prays she never may behold the day:
    "For day" quoth she "night's 'scapes doth open lay,
        And my true eyes have never practised how
        To cloak offences with a cunning brow.    749

"They think not but that every eye can see
    The same disgrace which they themselves behold;
    And therefore would they still in darkness be,
    To have their unseen sin remain untold;
    For they their guilt with weeping will unfold,
        And grave, like water that doth eat in steel,
        Upon my cheeks what helpless shame I feel."    756

Here she exclaims against repose and rest,
    And bids her eyes hereafter still be blind.
    She wakes her heart by beating on her breast,
    And bids it leap from thence, where it may find
    Some purer chest to close so pure a mind.
        Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite
        Against the unseen secrecy of night:    763

"O comfort-killing Night, image of hell!
    Dim register and notary of shame!
    Black stage for tragedies and murders fell!
    Vast sin-concealing chaos! Nurse of blame!
    Blind muffled bawd! Dark harbour for defame!
        Grim cave of death! Whisp'ring conspirator
        With close-tongued treason and the ravisher!    770

"O hateful, vaporous, and foggy Night,
    Since thou art guilty of my cureless crime,
    Muster thy mists to meet the eastern light,
    Make war against proportioned course of time;
    Or if thou wilt permit the sun to climb
        His wonted height, yet ere he go to bed
        Knit poisonous clouds about his golden head.    777

"With rotten damps ravish the morning air;
    Let their exhaled unwholesome breaths make sick
    The life of purity, the supreme fair,
    Ere he arrive his weary noontide prick;
    And let thy musty vapours march so thick
        That in their smoky ranks his smothered light
        May set at noon and make perpetual night.    784

"Were Tarquin Night, as he is but Night's child,
    The silver-shining queen he would distain;
    Her twinkling handmaids too, by him defiled,
    Through Night's black bosom should not peep again.
    So should I have co-partners in my pain;
        And fellowship in woe doth woe assuage,
        As palmers' chat makes short their pilgrimage.    791

"Where now I have no one to blush with me,
    To cross their arms and hang their heads with mine,
    To mask their brows and hide their infamy;
    But I alone, alone must sit and pine,
    Seasoning the earth with showers of silver brine,
        Mingling my talk with tears, my grief with groans,
        Poor wasting monuments of lasting moans.    798

"O Night, thou furnace of foul reeking smoke,
    Let not the jealous Day behold that face
    Which underneath thy black all-hiding cloak
    Immodestly lies martyred with disgrace.
    Keep still possession of thy gloomy place,
        That all the faults which in thy reign are made
        May likewise be sepulchred in thy shade.    805

"Make me not object to the telltale Day:
    The light will show charactered in my brow
    The story of sweet chastity's decay,
    The impious breach of holy wedlock vow;
    Yea, the illiterate that know not how
        To cipher what is writ in learnd books
        Will quote my loathsome trespass in my looks.    812

"The nurse to still her child will tell my story,
    And fright her crying babe with Tarquin's name.
    The orator to deck his oratory
    Will couple my reproach to Tarquin's shame.
    Feast-finding minstrels, tuning my defame,
        Will tie the hearers to attend each line,
        How Tarquin wrongd me, I Collatine.    819

"Let my good name, that senseless reputation,
    For Collatine's dear love be kept unspotted.
    If that be made a theme for disputation,
    The branches of another root are rotted,
    And undeserved reproach to him allotted
        That is as clear from this attaint of mine
        As I ere this was pure to Collatine.    826

"O unseen shame, invisible disgrace!
    O unfelt sore, crest-wounding private scar!
    Reproach is stamped in Collatinus' face,
    And Tarquin's eye may read the mot afar,
    How he in peace is wounded, not in war.
        Alas how many bear such shameful blows,
        Which not themselves but he that gives them knows!    833

"If, Collatine, thine honour lay in me,
    From me by strong assault it is bereft:
    My honey lost, and I, a drone-like bee,
    Have no perfection of my summer left,
    But robbed and ransacked by injurious theft.
        In thy weak hive a wand'ring wasp hath crept,
        And sucked the honey which thy chaste bee kept.    840

"Yet am I guilty of thy honour's wrack;
    Yet for thy honour did I entertain him:
    Coming from thee, I could not put him back,
    For it had been dishonour to disdain him.
    Besides, of weariness he did complain him,
        And talked of virtue-O unlooked-for evil,
        When virtue is profaned in such a devil!    847