Page:Shakespeare Collection of Poems.djvu/88

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76
The Rape of Lucrece.
His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,
His eye commends the leading to his hand:
His hand as proud of such a dignity,
Smoaking with pride, marcht on to make his stand
On her bare breasts, the heart of all her land,
Whose ranks of blew veins as his hand did scale,
Left their round turrets destitute and pale.

They mustering 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 amaz'd breaks ope her lockt up eyes,
Who peeping forth this tumult to behold,
Are by his flaming torch dim'd and control'd.

Imagine her as one in dead of night,
From forth dull sleep by dreadful fancy waking,
That thinks she hath beheld some gastly sprite,
Whose grim aspect sets every joint a shaking,
What terrour 'tis: but she in worser taking,
From sleep disturbed, heedfully doth view
The sight which makes supposed terror rue.

5.Lucretia wakes amazed and confounded to be so surprized. Wrapp'd and confounded in a thousand feares,
Like to a new-kild bird she trembling lies:
She dares not looke, yet winking, there appears
Quicke shifting Antiques ugly in her eyes,
Such shadows are the weak braines forgeries;

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