Page 2277 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Which virtue gave the golden age to gild [60]
Their silver cheeks, and call’d it then their shield;
Teaching them thus to use it in the fight,
When shame assail’d, the red should fence the white.

This heraldry in Lucrece’ face was seen,

Argu’d by beauty’s red and virtue’s white; [65]
Of either’s colour was the other queen,
Proving from world’s minority their right.

Yet their ambition makes them still to fight;
The sov’reignty of either being so great,
That oft they interchange each other’s seat. [70]

This silent war of lilies and of roses,
Which Tarquin view’d in her fair face’s field,

In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses;
Where, lest between them both it should be kill’d,
The coward captive vanquished doth yield [75]
To those two armies, that would let him go
Rather than triumph in so false a foe.

Now thinks he that her husband’s shallow tongue, −
The niggard prodigal that prais’d her so, −
In that high task hath done her beauty wrong, [80]
Which far exceeds his barren skill to show.

Therefore that praise which Collatine doth owe
Enchanted Tarquin answers with surmise,
In silent wonder of still-gazing eyes.

This earthly saint adored by this devil, [85]
Little suspecteth the false worshipper;

For unstain’d thoughts do seldom dream on evil,
Birds never lim’d no secret bushes fear:
So guiltless she securely gives good cheer
And reverend welcome to her princely guest, [90]

Whose inward ill no outward harm express’d.