- description
- # THE ARGUMENT.
## Overview
This is a chapter titled "THE ARGUMENT." extracted from the file [pdf-01KG6Q7Q25RHMFT3SJXPV18VFF.txt](arke:01KG6S2X2EBB305ENM00G16GWA) and included in the [Venus and Adonis, Lucrece, Sonnets, and Pericles (Facsimile Editions)](arke:01KG6S3KNZT62WVVW4VT384KPF) poetry collection. It provides a summary of the plot of "The Rape of Lucrece."
## Context
The chapter is part of a larger collection of poetry that includes facsimile editions of works by William Shakespeare. This collection is associated with the [PDF Workflow Main Test 2026-01-30T00:26:53](arke:01KG6NWQ2H2K4PGG7H4ZHYCZ3Y) collection. It appears between the dedication to Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton ([TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, HENRY VVriothefley, Earle of Southhampton, and Baron of Titchfield.](arke:01KG6S4F3WTMEM2FD1XWGF82PX)) and the beginning of the poem itself ([THE RAPE OF LVCRECE.](arke:01KG6S4F41TRQPM1YD9S932QST)).
## Contents
The chapter contains a prose summary of the events in "The Rape of Lucrece," outlining the story of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the siege of Ardea, the virtuous Lucretia, Sextus Tarquinius's lust and assault, and the subsequent revolt led by Brutus that overthrew the Tarquins and established the Roman Republic. The text describes how Sextus Tarquinius, inflamed by Colatinus's praise of his wife Lucretia's chastity, travels to Colatium, where he rapes her. Lucretia reveals the crime to her father, husband, and their companions, exacting an oath of revenge before taking her own life. This act sparks a rebellion that leads to the exile of the Tarquins and the transition of Rome's government from a monarchy to a consulate.
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- description_title
- THE ARGUMENT.
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- text
- # THE ARGUMENT.
L Veius Tarquinius (for his excessive pride furnished Superbus) after he had caused his own father in law Scruius Tullius to be cruelly murdered, and contrarie to the Romane laws and customs, not requiring or staying for the peoples suffrages, had possessed himself of the kingdom: went accompanied with his sones and other Noble men of Rome, to besiege Ardea, during which siege, the principal men of the Army meeting one evening at the Tent of Sextus Tarquinius the Kings' son, in their discourses after supper every one commended the virtues of his own wife: among whom Colatinus extolled the incomparable chastity of his wife Lucretia. In that pleasant humor they all posted to Rome, and intending by their secret and sodaine arrival to make trial of that which every one had before announced, only Colatinus finds his wife (though it were late in the night) spinning amongst her maides, the other Ladies were all found daunting and repelling, or in several disputes: whereupon the Noble men yielded Colatinus the victory, and his wife the Fame. At that time Sextus Tarquinius being enslaved with Lucrece beauty, yet smothering his passions for the present departed with the rest back to the Campe: from whence he shortly after privity withdrew himself, and was (according to his estate) royally entertained and lodged by Lucrece at Colatium. The same night he treacherousae stealth into her Chamber, violently raushes her, and early in the morning speedeth away. Lucrece in this lamentable plight, hastily dispatch-oth Messengers, one to Rome for her father, another to the Campe for Colatine. They came, the one accompanied with Junius Brutus, the other with Publius Valerius: and finding Lucrece attired in mourning habite, demanded the cause of her sorrow. She first taking an oath of them for her revenge, revealed the Astor, and whole maner of his dealing, and with all sodainly stabbed her selfs: Which done, with one consent they all vowed to roote out the whole hated family of the Tarquins: and bearing the dead body to Rome, Brutus acquainted the people with the door and manner of the vile deeds: with a bitter inueline against the tyranny of the King, wherewith the people were so moised, that with one consent and a general acclamation, the Tarquins were all exiled, and the state government changed from Kings to Conjuls.
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- title
- THE ARGUMENT.