66
The Rape of Lucrece.
Th' one sweetly flatters, th' other feareth harm:
But honest fear, bewicht with lusts foul charm,
Doth too too oft betake him to retire,
Beaten away by brain-sick rude desire.
But honest fear, bewicht with lusts foul charm,
Doth too too oft betake him to retire,
Beaten away by brain-sick rude desire.
His Fauchion on a flint he softly smiteth,
That from the cold stone sparks of fire do flie,
Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,
Which must be load-star to his lustful eye,
And to the flame thus speaks advisedly;
As from this cold flint I enforst this fire,
So Lucrece must I force to my desire.
That from the cold stone sparks of fire do flie,
Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,
Which must be load-star to his lustful eye,
And to the flame thus speaks advisedly;
As from this cold flint I enforst this fire,
So Lucrece must I force to my desire.
Here pale with fear he doth premeditate
The dangers of his lothsome enterprize,
And in his inward mind he doth debate
What following sorrow may on this arise:
Then looking scornfully, he doth despise
His naked armor of still slaughtered lust,
And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust.
The dangers of his lothsome enterprize,
And in his inward mind he doth debate
What following sorrow may on this arise:
Then looking scornfully, he doth despise
His naked armor of still slaughtered lust,
And justly thus controls his thoughts unjust.
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.
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.
O shame to knighthood, and to shining arms,
O foul dishonour to my housholds grave:
O foul dishonour to my housholds grave:
O
