68
The Rape of Lucrece.
O what excuse can my invention make
When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed:
Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake?
Mine eyes forgo their light, my false heart bleed?
The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed,
And extreme feare can neither fight nor flie,
But cowardlike, with trembling terror die.
When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed:
Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake?
Mine eyes forgo their light, my false heart bleed?
The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed,
And extreme feare can neither fight nor flie,
But cowardlike, with trembling terror die.
Had Colatinus kill'd my Son or Sire,
Or lain in ambush to betray my life;
Or were he not my dear friend, this desire
Might have excuse to work upon his wife;
As in revenge or quital of such strife:
But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,
The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.
Or lain in ambush to betray my life;
Or were he not my dear friend, this desire
Might have excuse to work upon his wife;
As in revenge or quital of such strife:
But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,
The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end.
Shameful it is, if once the fact be known,
Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving,
I'll beg her love: but she is not her own;
The worst is but denial, and reproving.
My will is strong, past reasons weak removing.
Who fears a sentence or an old mans sawe,
Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.
Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving,
I'll beg her love: but she is not her own;
The worst is but denial, and reproving.
My will is strong, past reasons weak removing.
Who fears a sentence or an old mans sawe,
Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.
Thus (graceless) holds he disputation,
Tween frozen conscience and hot burning will,
And with good thoughts makes dispensation,
Urging the worser sense for vantage still.
Which in a moment doth confound and kill
Tween frozen conscience and hot burning will,
And with good thoughts makes dispensation,
Urging the worser sense for vantage still.
Which in a moment doth confound and kill
A
