Rape of Lucrece

by William Shakespeare

12 chapters2h 9mEnglish1594

About this book

The Rape of Lucrece (1594) is a narrative poem by William Shakespeare about the legendary Lucretia. Lucrece draws on the story described in both Ovid's Fasti and Livy's history of Rome. In 509 BC, Sextus Tarquinius, son of Tarquin, the king of Rome, raped Lucretia (Lucrece), wife of Collatinus, one of the king's aristocratic retainers. As a result, Lucrece committed suicide. Her body was paraded in the Roman Forum by the king's nephew. This incited a full-scale revolt against the Tarquins led by Lucius Junius Brutus, the banishment of the royal family, and the founding of the Roman republic. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Chapters (11)

1"From the besieged Ardea all in post..."

811

2"Now stole upon the time the dead of night..."

629

3"As corn o'ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear..."

1193

4"'Lucrece,' quoth he, 'this night I must enjoy thee...'"

884

5"He like a thievish dog creeps sadly thence..."

506

6"'O Opportunity, thy guilt is great...'"

519

7"'In vain I rail at Opportunity...'"

598

8"'Dear lord of that dear jewel I have lost...'"

604

9"At last she calls to mind..."

740

10"But now the mindful messenger..."

438

11"Here with a sigh, as if her heart would break..."

467

Rape of Lucrece

About this book

Chapters (11)

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