From The Rape Of Lucrece
Her
lily
hand
her
rosy
cheek
lies
under,
Cozening
the
pillow
of
a
lawful
kiss;
Who,
therefore
angry,
seems
to
part
in
sunder,
Swelling
on
either
side
to
want
his
bliss;
Between
whose
hills
her
head
entombed
is;
Where
like
a
virtuous
monument
she
lies,
To
be
admired
of
lewd
unhallowed
eyes.
Without
the
bed
her
other
fair
hand
was,
On
the
green
coverlet,
whose
perfect
white
Showed
like
an
April
daisy
on
the
grass,
With
pearly
sweat
resembling
dew
of
night.
Her
eyes,
like
marigolds,
had
sheathed
their
light,
And
canopied
in
darkness
sweetly
lay
Till
they
might
open
to
adorn
the
day.
Her
hair
like
golden
threads
played
with
her
breath
O
modest
wantons,
wanton
modesty!
Showing
life’s
triumph
in
the
map
of
death,
And
death’s
dim
look
in
life’s
mortality.
Each
in
her
sleep
themselves
so
beautify
As
if
between
them
twain
there
were
no
strife,
But
that
life
lived
in
death,
and
death
in
life.
Her
breasts
like
ivory
globes
circled
with
blue,
A
pair
of
maiden
worlds
unconquerèd,
Save
of
their
lord
no
bearing
yoke
they
knew,
And
him
by
oath
they
truly
honourèd.
These
worlds
in
Tarquin
new
ambition
bred,
Who
like
a
foul
usurper
went
about
From
this
fair
throne
to
heave
the
owner
out.
What
could
he
see
but
mightily
he
noted?
What
did
he
note
but
strongly
he
desired?
What
he
beheld,
on
that
he
firmly
doted,
And
in
his
will
his
willful
eye
he
tired.
With
more
than
admiration
he
admired
Her
azure
veins,
her
alabaster
skin,
Her
coral
lips,
her
snow-white
dimpled
chin.
As
the
grim
lion
fawneth
o’er
his
prey
Sharp
hunger
by
the
conquest
satisfied,
So
o’er
this
sleeping
soul
doth
Tarquin
stay,
His
rage
of
lust
by
gazing
qualified;
Slacked,
not
suppressed;
for,
standing
by
her
side,
His
eye,
which
late
this
mutiny
restrains,
Unto
a
greater
uproar
tempts
his
veins.
And
they,
like
straggling
slaves
for
pillage
fighting,
Obdurate
vassals
fell
exploits
effecting.
In
bloody
death
and
ravishment
delighting,
Nor
children’s
tears
nor
mothers’
groans
respecting,
Swell
in
their
pride,
the
onset
still
expecting.
Anon
his
beating
heart,
alarum
striking,
Gives
the
hot
charge
and
bids
them
do
their
liking.
His
drumming
heart
cheers
up
his
burning
eye,
His
eye
commends
the
leading
to
his
hand;
His
hand,
as
proud
of
such
a
dignity,
Smoking
with
pride,
marched
on
to
make
his
stand
On
her
bare
breast,
the
heart
of
all
her
land,
Whose
ranks
of
blue
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
amazed,
breaks
ope
her
locked-up
eyes,
Who,
peeping
forth
this
tumult
to
behold,
Are
by
his
flaming
torch
dimmed
and
controlled.
Imagine
her
as
one
in
dead
of
night
From
forth
dull
sleep
by
dreadful
fancy
waking,
That
thinks
she
hath
beheld
some
ghastly
sprite,
Whose
grim
aspect
sets
every
joint
a-shaking.
What
terror
‘tis!
but
she,
in
worser
taking,
From
sleep
disturbèd,
heedfully
doth
view
The
sight
which
makes
supposèd
terror
true.
Wrapped
and
confounded
in
a
thousand
fears,
Like
to
a
new-killed
bird
she
trembling
lies.
She
dares
not
look;
yet,
winking,
there
appears
Quick-shifting
antics
ugly
in
her
eyes.
Such
shadows
are
the
weak
brain’s
forgeries,
Who,
angry
that
the
eyes
fly
from
their
lights,
In
darkness
daunts
them
with
more
dreadful
sights.
His
hand,
that
yet
remains
upon
her
breast
(Rude
ram,
to
batter
such
an
ivory
wall!)
May
feel
her
heart
(poor
citizen)
distressed,
Wounding
itself
to
death,
rise
up
and
fall,
Beating
her
bulk,
that
his
hand
shakes
withal.
This
moves
in
him
more
rage
and
lesser
pity,
To
make
the
breach
and
enter
this
sweet
city.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He is one of the world's most highly esteemed writers, and is thought to be the most quoted author in history, second only to the Bible. His plays and poems have been studied, analyzed, read, and loved for centuries. Little is known about William Shakespeare's childhood or education, but scholars agree that he likely attended the King's New School. He was working as an actor and playwright in London by the year 1592, and was also a managing partner in the acting company the Lord Chamberlain's Men. After James I was crowned king in 1603, the theater company's name was changed to the King's Men, and it grew to be quite popular.