CCLVI Yet sometime 'Tarquin' was pronounced plain, Then son and father weep with equal strife 1786 1790 CCLVII The one doth call her his, the other his, Yet neither may possess the claim they lay. The father says 'She's mine.' 'O, mine she is,' My sorrow's interest; let no mourner say He weeps for her, for she was only mine, 1793 1797 CCLVIII 1800 'O,' quoth Lucretius, 'I did give that life Which she too early and too late hath spill'd.' 'Woe, woe,' quoth Collatine, 'she was my wife, I owed her, and 'tis mine that she hath kill'd.' 'My daughter' and 'my wife' with clamours fill'd The dispers'd air, who, holding Lucrece' life, Answer'd their cries, my daughter' and 'my wife.' 1804 CCLIX Brutus, who pluck'd the knife from Lucrece' side, 1807 Seeing such emulation in their woe, Began to clothe his wit in state and pride, 1811 He with the Romans was esteemed so As silly-jeering idiots are with Kings, For sportive words and utt'ring foolish things: CCLX But now he throws that shallow habit by, To check the tears in Collatinus' eyes. 1814 1818 CCLXI 'Why, Collatine, is woe the cure for woe? 1821 Do wounds help wounds, or grief help grievous deeds? Is it revenge to give thyself a blow For his foul act by whom thy fair wife bleeds? Such childish humour from weak minds proceeds: 1825 Thy wretched wife mistook the matter so, To slay herself, that should have slain her foe. CCLXII 'Courageous Roman, do not steep thy heart 1828 That they will suffer these abominations 1832 (Since Rome herself in them doth stand disgraced), By our strong arms from forth her fair streets chased, CCLXIII Now, by the Capitol that we adore, And by this chaste blood so unjustly stainéd, By heaven's fair sun that breeds the fat earth's store, 1835 1839 CCLXIV This said, he struck his hand upon his breast, Who, wond'ring at him, did his words allow : 1842 Then jointly to the ground their knees they bow: 1846 And that deep vow, which Brutus made before, He doth again repeat, and that they swore. CCXLV When they had sworn to this advised doom, 1849 1853 The Romans plausibly did give consent |