The complete works of William Shakespeare Volume 18-20 ; With a life of the poet, explanatory foot-notes, critical notes, and a glossarial index

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 Excerpt: ... shall breed; But nothing can affection's7 course control, Or stop the headlong fury of his speed. I know repentant tears ensue the deed, Reproach, disdain, and deadly enmity; Yet strive I to embrace mine infamy." This said, he shakes aloft his Roman blade, Which, like a falcon towering in the skies Coucheth8 the fowl below with his wings' shade, Whose crooked beak threats if he mount he dies: So under his insulting falchion lies 6 " I am well aware that the honey is guarded with stings." 7 Affection for lust or sensual desire. See vol. vii. page 148, note 21. Harmless Lucretia, marking what he tells With trembling fear, as fowl hear falcon's bells.9 "Lucrece," quoth he, "this night I must enjoy thee: If thou deny, then force must work my way, For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee: That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay, To kill thine honour with thy life's decay; And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him, Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him. "So thy surviving husband shall remain The scornful mark of every open eye; Thy kinsmen hang their heads at this disdain, Thy issue blurr'd with nameless10 bastardy: And thou, the author of their obloquy, Shalt have thy trespass cited up in rhymes, And sung by children in succeeding times. "But if thou yield, I rest thy secret friend: The fault unknown is as a thought unacted; A little harm done to a great good end For lawful policy remains enacted. The poisonous simplel sometimes is compacted 8 Coucheth in the sense of causeth to couch. To couch here means to cower or to crosiih. Sec vol. xiv. page 6i, note 7.--Like is simply equivalent to as. Repeatedly so. See vol. iii. page 72, note 15. Bells were a frequent appendage to falcons. See vol. ix. page 10...