按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Replies her husband： 'do not take away
My sorrow's interest； let no mourner say
He weeps for her； for she was only mine；
And only must be wailed by Collatine。'
'O；' quoth Lucretius； 'I did give that life
Which she too early and too late hath spilled。'
'Woe； woe；' quoth Collatine； 'she was my wife；
I owed her； and 'tis mine that she hath killed。'
'My daughter' and 'my wife' with clamours filled
The dispersed air； who； holding Lucrece' life；
Answered their cries； 'my daughter' and 'my wife'。
Brutus； who plucked the knife from Lucrece' side；
Seeing such emulation in their woe；
Began to clothe his wit in state and pride；
Burying in Lucrece' wound his folly's show。
He with the Romans was esteemed so
As silly jeering idiots are with kings；
For sportive words and utt'ring foolish things。
But now he throws that shallow habit by
Wherein deep policy did him disguise；
And armed his long…hid wits advisedly
To check the tears in Collatinus' eyes。
'Thou wronged lord of Rome；' quoth he； 'arise；
Let my unsounded self； supposed a fool；
Now set thy long…experienced wit to school。
'Why； Collatine； is woe the cure for woe？
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。
Thy wretched wife mistook the matter so
To slay herself； that should have slain her foe。
'Courageous Roman； do not steep thy heart
In such relenting dew of lamentations；
But kneel with me and help to bear thy part
To rouse our Roman gods with invocations
That they will suffer these abominations；
Since Rome herself in them doth stand disgraced；
By our strong arms from forth her fair streets chased。
'Now by the Capitol that we adore；
And by this chaste blood so unjustly stained；
By heaven's fair sun that breeds the fat earth's store；
By all our country rights in Rome maintained；
And by chaste Lucrece' soul that late complained
Her wrongs to us； and by this bloody knife；
We will revenge the death of this true wife。'
This said； he struck his hand upon his breast；
And kissed the fatal knife to end his vow；
And to his protestation urged the rest；
Who； wond'ring at him； did his words allow；
Then jointly to the ground their knees they bow；
And that deep vow which Brutus made before
He doth again repeat； and that they swore。
When they had sworn to this advised doom；
They did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thence；
To show her bleeding body thorough Rome；
And so to publish Tarquin's foul offence；
Which being done with speedy diligence；
The Romans plausible did give consent
To Tarquin's everlasting banishment。
…THE END…
。