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 RAPE OF LUCRECE. 23

inge with the loue of Lucrece, after he perceiued the houmolde to be at reste, and all thinges in quiet, with his naked sworde in his hande, wente to Lucrece being a fleepe, and keeping her downe with his lefte hande, saide : " Holde thy peace Lucrece, I am Sextus Tarquinius, my sworde is in my hand, if thou crie, I will kill thee." The gentlewoman sore afrayed, being newely awaked oute of her fleepe, and feeing iminent death, could not tell what to do. Then Tarquinius confefled his loue, and began to intreate her, and therewithall vsed fundry minacing wordes, by all meanes attempting to make her quiet : when he faw her obftinate, and that me woulde not yelde to his requeft, notwithstanding his cruell threates, he added fhameful and villanous fpeach, saying: That he would kill her, and when me was flaine, he woulde also kill his flaue, and place him by her, that it might be reported howe me was ilaine, being taken in adulterie. She vanquifhed with his ter rible and infamous threate, his flemlye and licentious enterprice, ouercame the puritie of her chaste and honest hart, which done he departed. Then Lucrece sent a poft to Rome to her father, and an other to Ardea to her husbande, requiringe them that they would make fpeede to come vnto her, with certaine of their truftie frendes, for that a cruell fa6te was chaunced. Then Sp. Lucretius with P. Valerius the sonne of Volefius, and Collatinus with L. Iimius Brutus, made hast to Lucrece: where they sounde her fitting, very penfife and fadde, in her chamber. So sone as me fawe them (he began pitioufly to weepe. Then her hufband afked her, whether all thinges were well, vnto whom me fayde these wordes.

" No dere husbande, for what can be well or fafe vnto a woman, when (he hath loft her chastitie? Alas Collatine, the fteppes of an other man, be now fixed in thy bed. But it is my bodye onely that is violated, my minde God knoweth is giltles, whereof my death shalbe witnefie. But if you be men giue me your handes and trouth, that the adulterer may not efcape vnreuenged. It is Sextus Tarquinius whoe being an enemie, in fteede of a frende, the other night came vnto mee, armed with his fword in his hand, and by violence caried away from me (the Goddes know) a woful ioy." Then euery one of them gaue her their

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