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The Rape of Lucrece.
The president whereof in Lucrece view,
Assail'd by night with circumstances strong
Of present death and shame that might ensue,
By that her death to do her husband wrong:
Such danger to resistance did belong.
The dying fear through all her body spread,
And who cannot abuse a body dead?
Assail'd by night with circumstances strong
Of present death and shame that might ensue,
By that her death to do her husband wrong:
Such danger to resistance did belong.
The dying fear through all her body spread,
And who cannot abuse a body dead?
By this mild Patience bid fair Lucrece speak
To the poor counterfeit of her complaining:
My girle, quoth she, on what occasion break
Those tears from thee, that down thy cheeks are raining?
If thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining,
Know gentle wench, it small avails my mood,
If tears could help, mine own would do me good.
To the poor counterfeit of her complaining:
My girle, quoth she, on what occasion break
Those tears from thee, that down thy cheeks are raining?
If thou dost weep for grief of my sustaining,
Know gentle wench, it small avails my mood,
If tears could help, mine own would do me good.
But tell me girle, when went (and there she staid
Till after a deep grone) Tarquin from, hence?
Madam ere I was up (replied the maid)
The more to blame my sluggard negligence:
Yet with the fault I thus far can dispense,
My self was stirring ere the break of day,
And ere I rose was Tarquin gone away.
Till after a deep grone) Tarquin from, hence?
Madam ere I was up (replied the maid)
The more to blame my sluggard negligence:
Yet with the fault I thus far can dispense,
My self was stirring ere the break of day,
And ere I rose was Tarquin gone away.
But Lady, if your maid may be so bold,
She would request to know your heaviness.
O peace (quoth Lucrece) 'if it should be told,
The repetition cannot make it lesse:
For more it is than I can well expresse,
She would request to know your heaviness.
O peace (quoth Lucrece) 'if it should be told,
The repetition cannot make it lesse:
For more it is than I can well expresse,
And
