iately
galloped to Rome, where they arrived in the dusk of the evening. From
thence they went to Collatia, where they find Lucretia, not like the
king's daughters-in-law, whom they had seen spending their time in
luxurious entertainments with their equals, but though at an advanced
time of night, employed at her wool, sitting in the middle of the house
amid her maids working around her. The merit of the contest regarding
the ladies was assigned to Lucretia. Her husband on his arrival, and the
Tarquinii, were kindly received; the husband, proud of his victory,
gives the young princes a polite invitation. There the villanous passion
for violating Lucretia by force seizes Sextus Tarquin; both her beauty,
and her approved purity, act as incentives. And then, after this
youthful frolic of the night, they return to the camp.

58. A few days after, without the knowledge of Collatinus, Sextus came
to Collatia with one attendant only; where, being kindly received by
them, as not being aware of his intention, after he had been conducted
after supper into the guests' chamber, burning with passion, when every
thing around seemed sufficiently secure, and all fast asleep, he comes
to Lucretia, as she lay asleep, with a naked sword, and with his left
hand pressing down the woman's breast, he says, "Be silent, Lucretia; I
am Sextus Tarquin; I have a sword in my hand; you shall die, if you
utter a word." When awaking terrified from sleep, the woman beheld no
aid, impending death nigh at hand; then Tarquin acknowledged his
passion, entreated, mixed threats with entreaties, tried the female's
mind in every possible way. When he saw her inflexible, and that she was
not moved even by the terror of death, he added to terror the threat of
dishonour; he says that he will lay a murdered slave naked by her side
when dead, so that she may be said to have been slain in infamous
adultery. When by the terror of this disgrace his lust, as it were
victorious, had overcome her inflexible chastity, and Tarquin had
departed, exulting in having triumphed over a lady's honour, Lucretia,
in melancholy distress at so dreadful a misfortune, despatches the same
messenger to Rome to her father, and to Ardea to her husband, that they
would come each with one trusty friend; that it was necessary to do so,
and that quickly.[64] Sp. Lucretius comes with P. Valerius, the son of
Volesus, Collatinus with L. Junius Brutus, with whom, as he was
returning to Rome, he hap