Page 2273 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

THE ARGUMENT IT

Lucius Tarquinius (for his excessive pride surnamed Superbus), after he had
caused his own father-in-law Servius Tullius to be cruelly murdered, and,
contrary to the Roman laws and customs, not requiring or staying for the
people’s suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom, went,

accompanied with his sons and other noblemen of Rome, to besiege Ardea.
During which siege, the principal men of the army meeting one evening at
the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, the King’s son, in their discourses after supper
everyone commended the virtues of his own wife; among whom Collatinus

extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant
humour they all posted to Rome, and, intendig by their secret and sudden
arrival to make trial of that which everyone had before avouched, only
Collatinus finds his wife, though it were late in the night, spinning amongst

her maids; the other ladies were all found dancing and revelling, or in several
disports. Whereupon the noblemen yielded Collatinus the victory, and his wife
the fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius, being inflamed with Lucrece’
beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present, departed with the rest

back to the camp; from whence he shortly after privily withdrew himself, and
was, according to his estate, royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at
Collatium. The same night he treacherously stealeth into her chamber,
violently ravished her, and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece, in

this lamentable plight, hastily despatcheth messengers, one to Rome for her
father, another to the camp for Collatine. They came, the one accompanied
with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius; and finding Lucrece
attired in mourning habit, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She, first taking

an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the actor, and whole manner of his
dealing, and withal suddenly stabbed herself. Which done, with one consent
they all vowed to root out the whole hated family of the Tarquins, and,
bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted the people with the doer

and manner of the vile deed, with a bitter invective against the tyranny of the
King. Wherewith the people were so moved, that with one consent and a
general acclamation the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government