A nest of singing birds; 15; The Rape of Lucrece

A nest of singing birds. Three centuries of English verse with a doctorate from just. The Rape of Lucrece Shakespeare published this poem in 50 94. Here's a typical stanza. It shows the scale the interests the artistic maturity with which we are familiar in the plays. Shakespeare was all of a piece. The pleading eyes are sadly fixed in the remorseless wrinkles of his face. How modest eloquence whose size is mixed which to her own attorney adds more grace. She puts the period often from his place amidst the sentence so her accent breaks that twice she does begin no one she speaks in accordance with the custom of the time. There was an account of the plot called the argument which tells us that during the siege of idea by the Romans the nobleman gathered on one occasion in the tent of sex to start quickness. The king's son each insisting on the virtues of his own wife above those of all other women. They decided to put their

boast to the test and returned suddenly to Rome. Intending by their secret and sudden arrival to make trial of that which everyone had before but only counted times Lucrece was at home spinning amongst her maids. In the words of the argument the other ladies were all found dancing revelling or in several disport or in various kinds of amusement. Whereupon the nobleman yielded quite a time as the victory and his wife the fame unfortunately talk when had developed a violent passion for Lucrece cottons wife which he managed to hide as they all return to camp. He secretly hastened back to the city at the first opportunity however and was according to his estate royally entertained enlarged by the increase of color to him the same night he treacherously steal into her chamber violently ravished her and early in the morning speed at her way. LUCRECE sends to her father in Rome

and to call a time in camp. Her husband came with Junius Brutus and sister of Julius Caesar's friend. The argument says fine Lucrece in mourning have it demanded the cause of her sorrow. She first taking an oath of them for her revenge revealed the actor and the whole manner of his dealing and with all suddenly stabbed herself. The actor there means the person who perpetrated the deed. The result was the Tarquin family was exiled and as the text says and the state government changed from Kings to councils pleading eyes are sadly fixed in the remorseless wrinkles of his face a modest eloquence with sizes mixed which to honor to add small grace here. She is awake. He has made his demand and threatened that if she refuses he will kill her and then be no slave for his body on hers and declare that he found them making love and then died dead. Do I mean to place him.

Swearing I slew him. Seeing the embrace him. She conjures him by high all mighty Joe by knighthood gentry and sweet friendship's oath by her untimely tears her husband's love by her only human law and common prose by heaven and earth and all the power of both that to his borrowed bed he make retire and stoop to Alma not to fall desire quoth she who would not hospitality with such black payment as that has pretended. Not the fountain that gave drink to the. Man not the thing that cannot be amended. And why Elaine before that should be ended. He is no Woodman but the bend his bow to strike a poor unseasonable doe. My husband is thy friend for his sake spare me myself out mighty but I now own sake leave me

myself a weakling. Do not then snare me now looks mild like deceit. Do not deceive me my size like whirlwinds Labor hence to heave the. If ever man were moved with a woman's moans be moved with my tears my sighs my groan. Sometimes Today the complexity of Shakespeare's verbal patterning distracts us. But here he is insisting only that Lucrece has no control of her words. She pours out her anguish pleading with Tarquin. She puts the period often from his place amidst the sentence so her accent breaks that twice she does begin no one she speaks. Once he has raped her she has lost a dear thing than life and he has won what he would lose again. This forcedly force of further strife. There's momentary joy breeds months of pain there's heart desire convert to cold disdain poor chastity is

rifled of her store and lost the thief far poorer than before. Forcedly means enforce it union it makes further strife inevitable. And he has won what he would lose again. The would their means would prefer to lose again. Wishes he could lose again when Tarquin leaves Lucrece dreads the coming of the. But hating the knight for what it is exposed to. He then says departs. I have a convert tied she there remains a hopeless castaway. He and his speed looks for the morning light. She never made a hole that day but the Course she nightscope stuff openly. And my true eyes have never practiced how to cloak offenses with it coming. I think not that that ever I can see the same disgrace which they themselves behold

and therefore were they still in darkness be to have that one seems non-tolled. For their guilt with weeping will unfold and graves like water that the three eat in steel upon my cheeks what helpless shame I feel. Yeah she exclaims against repose and rest and better lives here after still blind. She wakes her heart by beating on her breast. And where does it leap from thence where it may find some purer chest to close so pure the mind. Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite against the unseen secrecy of night. But at least Knight hides her shame. Make me not object to the tell tale day. The light will show corrected in my brow the story of sweet chastity is decay. The imperious breach of holy wedlock vow. Yea they a little of that know not how to cypher what is written learned books will quote my loathsome trespass

in my looks. Lucretia falls into despair with human life and human wishes. Whatever man prizes comes to nothing. The aged man that covers up his go is plagued with cramps and got some painful fits and scarce half eyes his treasures to behold. But like still pining Tantalus he sits and useless by the harvest of his wits. Having no other pleasures of his game but torment that it cannot cure his pain. So then he had it when he cannot use it and leaves it to be mastered by his young. Who in their pride do presently abuse it. That father was too weak and they're too strong to hold their curse and bless it for too long. The Swedes we wish for turned to loathe it sours even in the moment that we call them ours unruly blasts wait on the tender spring and wholesome weeds take root with precious flowers the adhesives where the

sweet birds sing what virtue breeds iniquity devours. We have no good that we can say is ours but they'll annex it opportunity or kills his life or else his quality. Now she turns on him an extra dapat unity joint opportunity which allows every good to be destroyed or opportunity. Guilt is great. There's thou that executes the traitors treason lives that's the will for he the land I get. Whoever plots the sin thou points the season does that spurns to write law and reason and in the shade the cell where none by him sits to seize the souls that wander by him. Law makes the vest violate the fire when temperance is thought out smothered most honestly the murderous troth that follow them that down no tortillas

bald. Doll planted scandal and displaces Lord rubbish about tricked or false thief. Lie honey turns to go buy Joy to grief. When will that be the humble succulents friend and bring him where his suit may be obtained. When will those sold in our great strife story and bring you that soul which wretchedness had shamed. Give physic to the sick ease to the pain and the poor lying. Halt creep. Cry out for the but they and their opportunity to Lucrece in her agony it seems that opportunity always exists for evil never for good. The next three stanzas are beautifully precise smooth in their rhythm harmonious and yet complex in their bitterness. The second of them makes wonderful use of antithesis. But there is a stronger power than

opportunity. LUCRECE denounces time the master of opportunity she says. Want time all to do. Time's glorious to come contending kings to unmask false sword and bring truth to light to stamp the seal of time and needed things to wake them on and send in all the night to wrong the wrong there to here and a right to ruin a proud buildings with ours and smear with dust their glittering golden towers to fill it with wormholes stately monuments to feed oblivion with decay of things to blot old books and alter their contents. To pluck the Quivers from ancient Ravens wings to dry the old oak sap and cherish Springs to spoil antiquities of hammered steel and turn the giddy round of fortune's wheel. If only time could bring back one hour of this dreadful night.

But if not that then at least arrange some mishap for Tarquin that was ceaselessly lucky to eternity with some mischance crossed Tarquin and his flight. Devise extremes beyond extremity to make him curse this curse it crime night that the ghastly shadows his lewd eyes affright. And the dire thought of his committed evil shape every botia hideous shapeless death disturb his hours of rest with restless trances afflict him in his bed with bed with groans. That there were Chance him pitiful mischances to make him moan but pity not his ma. Stone him with hardened hearts harder than stones. And let my old women to him lose them mildness Wilder to him than tigers in their wildness. Let him have time to tear his curly hair. Let him have time against himself to rave. Let him have time of times help to despair.

Let him have time to live with its leave. Let him have time a beggar's all to crave. And time to see one that by arms doth lead to staying to him disdain and scraps to give. Let him have time to see his friends his photos and Mary foods to market him resolved. To let him have time to mark how slow time goes in time of sorrow. And how swift and short his time of folly and his time of sport. And ever led his own recalling crime have time to weigh really abusing of his time. She curses Tarquin and then thinks of suicide. And day begins to dawn when lo the blushing morrow learns light to all eyes that light will borrow but cloudy Lucrece shames herself to see and therefore still in cloudy night would cloistered be revealing daily through

every cranny spies and seems to point out where she sits weeping. To whom she is sobbing speaks. Oh I have eyes why I prised out through my window leaves like a peeping mark with bright tickling beams eyes that is sleeping. Planned out live followed without light for the day have not to do what. Down by night she will not die till Colleton returns. She gives a letter to the messenger and then goes back to look at the moving painting of the fall of Troy. The sheer brute started with the rape the rape of Helen but Helen gave herself gladly to Paris. She was the female counterpart of Tarquin show me the strumpet that began this. With with my nails her beauty and. The guy heat of lust found Paris did incur this load of Wrath the burning Troy don't bear. That

I kindled the fire burn it here and here in Troy for trespass of thine eye the side of the sun the dame and daughter die. Why should the private pleasure of some one become the public plague of many. Let sin alone committed light alone upon his head that have transgress it so that guiltless souls be freed from guilty for one man's offense why should so many fall to plague a private sin in general. Lo here weeps Hecuba here prior guys. Here manly Hector faints here Troilus here friend by friend and bloody channelise. And friend to friend gives unadvisedly. And one man's lust these many lives confounds had doting prior checked his desire. Troy had been bright with fame and not with fire.

We should hear all those passages again with a minimum of commentary from me. Just let me say at this point however how much I admire the poet's precise choice of words. The excellence of his rhyme in his control of rhythm his music and his imagining of Lucrece in her agony and every word he gives her her pretty pleading eyes are sadly fixed in the remorseless wrinkles of his face a modest eloquence whose size is mixed which to her owner to add small grace she puts the period often from his place amidst the sentence so her accent breaks the TWI she does begin no one she speaks. She canters him by high almighty Jove by knighthood gentry and sweet friendship's oath. By her own time to tears her husband's love. My holy human law and common prose. By heaven and earth and all the power of

both. But to his borrowed bed he make retire and stoop to Alma not to fall desire. Quoth she there would not hospitality with such black payment as that has pretended. Not the fountain that gave drink to the. Man not the thing that cannot be amended. And why Elaine before that should be ended. He is no Woodman but does bend his bow to strike a poor unseasonable dough. My husband is thy friend for his sake spare me myself out mighty What I now own sake leave me myself a weakling. Do not then snare me now look smug like deceit. Do not deceive me. My side is like whirlwinds Labor hence to heave thee if ever man were moved with a woman's moans be moved with my tears my sighs my groan.

Him talk with his likeness I didn't attend he has put on his shape to do him shame to all the host of heaven I complain me the wrong his omma wounds to his princely name now are not what that seems. And if the same bus seems not what ought to God a came for kings like God should govern everything. This deed will make the only love for fear but happy moments still obviated fall in love with foreign offenders that perforce must bear when they in the the like offenses prove if not for fear of this thy will remove for princes of a glass the school the book where subjects eyes to learn to read to look to be to ve my heaved up hands appeal not to seducing lost by rational liar. I see you were exiled Majesty's reply you let him return and flattering thoughts retire. His true respect will presume false desire and wiped the dim mist from like doting on.

But thou shall see thy state and pity mine. Now talking has left her. He then says departs. I have a convert tide. She remains a hopeless castaway. He and his speed looks for the morning light. She never made a hole that day. For there quoth she. Night scope stuff openly and my true eyes have never practiced how to cloak offenses with a cunning brow. They think not that that every eye can see the same disgrace which they themselves behold. And therefore were they still in darkness be to have their unseen sin remain untold. For they their guilt with weeping will unfold and grave like water that the three eat in steel upon my cheeks what helpless shame my life feel. Here she exclaims against repose and rest and beds arrives here after still

blind. She wakes her heart by beating on her breast and bids it leap from thence where it may find some purer chest to close so pure a mind. Frantic with grief thus breathes she forth her spite against the unseen secrecy of night. She shudders at the thought of you make me not object to the telltale day. The light will show corrected in my brow the story of sweet Chastity's decay the imperious breach of holy wedlock vow. Yea the illiterate that know not how to cipher what is written learned books will quote my loathsome trespass in my looks. We brood on the vanity of human wishes. The aged man that covers up his gold is plagued with cramps gout and painful fits and scarce have eyes his treasures to behold. But like still pining Tantalus he sits and useless by the harvest of his wits. Having no other pleasures of his game but torment that it cannot cure his

pain. So then he had it when he cannot use it and leaves it to be mastered by his young who in their pride do presently abuse it. The father was too weak and they're too strong to hold their curses blessid for too long. The Swedes we wish for turned to loathe it sours even in the moment that we call them ours. Unruly blasts wait on the tender spring and wholesome weeds take root with precious flowers. The adder he says where the sweet birds sing what virtue breeds iniquity devours. We have no good that we can say is ours but they'll annex it opportunity or kills his life or else his quality or opportunity thy guilt is great. There's thou that executes the traitors treason lives that's the will for he the land I get. Whoever plots the sin thou points the season is that that spurns

to write law and reason and in the shady sell when most by him sits sin to seize the souls that wander by him round makes the vestal violate her of thought blows the fire when temperance is thawed. Out smother most honestly the murderous troth that I've found I'm better than no tortillas board. Powerplant ist scandal and displaces Lord rubbish about traitor false thief. Lie honey turns to go by joy to grief. When will that be the humble succulents friend and bring him where his suit may be obtained. When mother saw it in our great strife story and. Offering you that soul which wretchedness had shamed give physic to the sick ease to the pain and the poor

lame blind halt creep cry out for the but they're in it with opportunity. The patient dives while the physician sleeps. They often pine while the oppressive feeds. Justice is feasting while the widow weeps and vices spouting while infection breeds. Law grants no time for charitable beads wrath envy treason rape and murders rages die he knows hours wait on them as their pages. When truth and virtue have to do with a thousand crosses keep them from the aid. They buy that help that sin gives a fee he greatest comes and the Rodwell are paid as well who hears grant what he had said. My color time what else have come to me when I talk winded. But he was stayed by the time is

denounced and curses are pronounced on Tarquin thou ceaseless lucky to eternity with some mischance crossed Tarquin and his flight. Devise extremes beyond extremity to make him curse this curse it crime full might. Lead to ghastly shadows his lewd eyes a fright. And the dire thought of his committed he will shake every bush a hideous shapeless devil. Disturbed his hours of rest with restless trances. Afflict him in his bed with bed with groans that there were a chance him pitiful missed chances to make him out on the pretty not his mom's stone with hardened hearts harder than stones. And let my old women to him lose them mildness Wilder to him than tigers in their wildness. Let him have time to tear his curly hair. Let him have time against himself to rave. Let him have time of times help

to despair. Let him have time to live that slave. Let him have time a beggar's all to crave. And time to see one the bae arms that lead to staying to him distain and scraps to give. Let him have time to see his friends his foes and merry foods to mock at him resolved. To let him have time to mark how slow time goes in time of sorrow. And how swift and short his time of folly and his time of sport. And ever lead his own recalling crime have time to weigh early abusing of his time. Day comes. Revealing day through every cranny spies and seems to point out where she said sweeping to whom she is sobbing speaks. Oh I have eyes why prized out through my window. Leave peeping

mark with right tickling beams eyes that a sleeping. Brand not live followed without piercing light. They have more to do what's done by and I should look at the painting of Troy. Show me the strumpet that began this with my nails her beauty and the guy heat of Lost Found palace today. This load of Wrath the burning droid of bear. That I kindled the fire that burned here and here in Troy for trespass of thine eye the size of the sun the day man daughter died. Why should the private pleasure of someone become the public plague of many. Let sin alone committed light alone upon his head that have transgressed it so that guiltless souls be freed from the guilty for ones offense why should so many for playing a private sin in general.

Lo here weeks Hecuba here Priam guys. Here man they Hector faints here Troilus sounds. Here friend by friend and bloody channelise and friend to friend gives unadvisedly and one man's lust these many lives confounds had doting Priam checked his son's desire Troy had been bright with fame and not with fire. Shakespeare describes her now here feelingly she weeps Troy's painted world for sorrow like a heavy hanging bell once set on ringing with his own will then little strength rings out the door for now. So Lucrece set to work sad tenuous death toll two pence old pensiveness and colored server Shanahan's them words and she their looks the barber. Let's see

her as we see her in the first of our stanzas. Her pretty pleading eyes are sadly fixed in the remorseless wrinkles of his face. Her modest eloquence whose size is mixed which to her own attorney adds more grace she puts the period often from his place amidst the sentence so her accent breaks that why she does begin no one she speaks she conjures him by high almighty Jove my knighthood gentry and sweet friendship's oath. I had on time to tears her husband's love my wholly human and common prose by heaven and earth and all the power of both. But to his borrowed bed he Micra talk to Alma to follow. You have been listening to a programme on the Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare. The verse was read by Elizabeth Shepherd.

This is Bertram Joseph inviting you to be with us again next week. This program was produced by Radio Broadcast Services of the University of Washington from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This is the national educational radio network.