ABSTRACT
GreatpreparationwasmadebytheRomaincs,againstapeople calledRutuli,whohadacitienamedArdca,excellinginwealth andricheswhichwasthecausethattheRomaineking,being exhaustedandquitevoydeofmoney,byreasonofhissumptuous buildinges,madewarresupponthateountrie.Inthetimeofthesiege ofthatcitietheyongeRomainegentlemenbanquetedoneanother, amongeswhomtherewasonecalledCollatinusTarquinius,the sonneofEgerius.Andbychauncetheyentredintocommunication oftheirwives,everyonepraysinghisseveralspouse.Atlengththe talkebegantogrowhot,whereuponCollatinussaid,thatwords werevaine.Forwithinfewhouresitmightbetried,howmuchhis wifeLucretiadidexceltherest,wherefore(quothhe)iftherebe anylivelihoodinyou,letustakeourhorse,toprovewhichofoure wivesdothsurmount.WheruppontheyroodetoRomeinpost.At theircommingtheyfoundthekingesdoughters,sportingethemselves withsondryepastimes:Fromthencetheywenttothehouseof Collatinus,wheretheyfoundeLucrece,notastheothersbefore named,spendingtimeinidelnes,butlateinthenightoccupied andbusieamongeshermaydesinthemiddesofherhousespinning ofwool.ThevictoryandpraysewherofwasgiventoLucretia,who whenshesawherhusband,gentlieandlovinglieintertainedhim, andcurteouslyebaddetheTarquinianswelcome.Immediately SextusTarquiniusthesonneofTarquiniusSuperbus(thattimethe Romaineking)wasincensedwythalibidinousdesire,toconstrupateanddefloureLucrece.Whentheyongegentlemenhadbestowedthatnightpleasantlywiththeirwives,theyretournedtothe Campe.Notlongafter,SextusTarquiniuswithonemanretourned toCollatiaunknowentoCollatinus,andignoranttoLucreceand therestofherhoushold,forwhatpurposehecame.Whobeing wellintertayned,aftersupperwasconveighedtohischamber. TarquiniusburningewiththeloveofLucrece,afterheperceived thehousholdetobeatreste,andallthingesinquiet,withhis nakedswordeinhishande,wentetoLucrecebeingasleepe,and keepingherdownewithhislefthande,saide:'Holdethypeace Lucrece,IamSextusTarquinius,myswordeisinmyhand,ifthou erie,Iwillkillthee.'Thegentlewomansoreafrayed,beingnewely awakedouteofhersleepe,andseeingimminentdeath,couldnot tellwhattodo.ThenTarquiniusconfessedhislove,andbeganto intreateher,andtherewithallusedsundrymenacingwordes,byall meanesattemptingtomakeherquiet:whenhesawherobstinate,
198 The Rape of Lucrece and that she woulde not y[i)elde to his request, notwithstanding his cruell threates, he added shameful and villanous speach, saying: That he would kill her, and when she was slaine, he woulde also kill his slave, and place him by her, that it might be reported howe she was slaine, being taken in adulterie. She vanquished with his terrible and infamous threate, his fleshlye and licentious enterprice overcame the puritie of her chaste and honest hart, which done he departed. Then Lucrece sent a post to Rome to her father, and an other to Ardea to her husbande, requiringe them that they would make speede to come unto her, with certaine of their trustie frendes, for that a cruel! facte was chaunced. Then Sp. Lucretius with P. Valerius the sonne ofVolesius, and Colla tin us with L. Junius Brutus, made hast to Lucrece: where they founde her sitting, very pensive and sadde, in her chamber. So sone as she sawe them she began pitiously to weepe. Then her husband asked her, whether all thinges were well: unto whome she sayde these wordes:
'No, deare husbande, for what can be wei or safe unto a woman, when she hath lost her chastitie? Alas Collatine, the steppes of an other man be now fixed in thy bed. But it is my bodye onely that is violated, my minde God knoweth is guiltles, whereof my death sha~be witnesse. But if you be men give me your handes and trouth, that the adulterer may not escape unrevenged. It is Sextus Tarquinius whoe being an enemie, in steede of a frende, the other night came unto mee, armed with his sword in his hand, and by violence caried away from me (the Goddes know) a woful joy.'
