# A Collection of Poems/The Rape of Lucrece

THE RAPE OF LUCRECE.
By Mr. William Shakespeare.
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1632.
To the Right Honourable Henry Wriothesly, Earl of Southampton, and Baron of Tichfield.
HE Love I dedicate to your Lordship is without end; whereof this Pamphlet, without beginning, is but a superfluous Moity. The warrant I have of your Honourable Disposition, not the Worth of my untutor'd 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 should shew greater: mean time, as it is, it is bound to your Lordship; To whom I wish long life still, lengthened with all happiness.
Your Lordships in all duty,
WILL. 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 Peoples suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom; went accompanied with his sons, and other noble men of Rome to besiege Ardea: during which, the principal men of the Army meeting one evening at the Tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the kings son, in their discourses after supper, every one commended the vertues of his own wife; among whom Colatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his Wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humor 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 Colatinus 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 noble men yielded Colatinus the victory, and his wife the fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius being inflamed with Lucreces beauty; yet smothering his Passion for the present, departed with the rest back to the Camp; from whence he shortly after privily with-drew himself, and was (according to his state) royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at Colatium. The same night, he trecherously stealeth into ​her Chamber, violently ravisht 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 Colatine. 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 acter, and whole manner of his dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed her self. Which done, with 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 with one consent, and a general acclamation, that the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from Kings to Consuls.
The Contents.
* LUcrece praises for chaste, vertuous, and beautiful, enamoreth Tarquin.
* Tarquin welcomed by Lucrece.
* Tarquin overthrows all disputing with wilfulness.
* He puts bis resolution in practice.
* Lucrece awakes, and is amazed to he so surprized.
* She pleads in defence of Chastity.
* Tarquin all impatient, interrupteth her, and ravisheth her by force.
* Lucrece complains on her abuse.
* She disputeth whether she should kill her self or no.
* She is resolved on her self-murther, yet sendeth first for her Husband.
* Colatinus with his friends return home.
* Lucrece relateth the mischief; they swear revenge, and she to exasperate the matter, killeth her self.
THE
RAPE
OF
LUCRECE.
FINIS