Reading the lines Marshall quotes here, I thought there might be some
ambiguity. Couldn't this be a description of
his reaction to her face, the rest of her body under covers, and Tarquin
imagining what he couldn't see? But a few
stanzas later, Lucrece's sleeping au naturel is made more apparent:
His drumming heart cheers up his burning eye,
His eye commends the leading to his hand;
His hand, as proud of such a dignity,
Smoking with pride, march'd on to make his stand
On her bare breast, the heart of all her land;
Whose ranks of blue veins, as his hand did scale,
Left there round turrets destitute and pale.
Original Message:
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From: Marshall Grossman [log in to unmask]
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2006 20:29:02 -0500
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sleeping attire
I've always had the impression that Lucrece was naked when Tarquin broke in:
What could he see but mightily he noted?
What did he note but strongly he desired?
What he beheld, on that he firmly doted,
And in his will his wilful eye he tired.
With more than admiration he admired
Her azure veins, her alabaster skin,
Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.
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