Lucretia: Paragon of Virtue TRANSLATION
Livy, in the first part of the Ab Urbe Condita, his voluminous history of Rome,
describes the downfall of the monarchy and the establishment of the republic. The
following incident hastened the ousting of Rome’s final king, Tarquin the Proud.
Rōma regēbātur ā tyrannō superbō, cuius fīlius erat Sextus
Rome was being ruled by an arrogant tyrant, whose son was Sextus
Tarquinius. Quādam nocte cum Tarquinius vīnum biberet
Tarquinius. On a certain night when Tarquinius was drinking wine
cum amīcīs, coepērunt quisque uxōrem suam laudāre.
with (his) friends, they began each to praise his own wife.
Collātīnus dīxit suam Lucrētiam omnibus cēterīs praestāre:
Collatinus said that his Lucretia surpassed all (of) the others:
“Nōs cōnferāmus in meās aedēs videāmusque quid mea
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Let us proceed (lit: “let us bring ourselves together”) into my house and
(let us) see what my
uxor nunc agat. Tum sciētis quantō melior sit mea Lucrētia
wife is now doing. Then you (pl.) will know (by) how much my Lucretia
is better
quam aliae.” Omnēs respondērunt, “Discēdāmus!” Cum
than other women. They all replied, “Let’s depart!” When
ad illās aedēs vēnissent, fidēlem Lucrētiam nōn lūdentem,
they had come to that house, they found faithful Lucretia not playing,
sed lānam dūcentem invēnērunt. Sextus, cum vidēret
but spinning wool (lit: “leading wool”). Sextus, when he saw
quam pulchra et pudīca Lucrētia esset, malō amōre captus 10
how beautiful and chaste Lucretia was, was seized by an evil
Lucretia: Paragon of Virtue TRANSLATION
est. Paucīs diēbus post, cum abesset Collātīnus, iste revēnit.
love. A few days later, when Collatinus was away, that man returned.
Cum, cēnā oblātā, in hospitāle cubiculum ductus esset, ad
When, after dinner had been offered, he had been led into a guest
bedroom, he
dormientem Lucrētiam vēnit: “Tacē!” inquit. “Sextus Tarcame to Lucretia while she was sleeping: “Be silent!” he said. “I am
quinius sum; ferrum in manū ferō. Cēde mihi aut tē
Sextus Tarquinius; I bear a sword in (my) hand. Yield to me or I will
necābō!” Cum Lucrētia necārī mallet, dēnique tamen vīcit 15
kill you!” Although Lucretia preferred to be killed, nevertheless, Sextus
Sextus eius pudīcitiam. Tum discessit. Sed Lucrētia omnia
finally overcame her chastity. Then he left. But Lucretia told all (of)
haec narrāvit Collātīnō, quī iūrāvit sē Sextum necātūrum
these things to Collatinus, who swore that he would kill
esse. Tum Lucrētia sē necāvit, nē aliīs uxōribus vidērētur
Sextus. Then Lucretia killed herself, lest she seem to be (as a) bad
example
malō exemplō esse: “Ego mē culpā absolvō, sed poenā nōn
to/for the other wives: “I free myself from blame, but I do not free
(myself)
līberō,” occidēns dīxit.
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from the punishment,” she said as she died.
- adapted from Livy, Ab Urbe Condita I.57.6-58.11
Lucretia: Paragon of Virtue TRANSLATION
(The Rape of Lucretia, Titian, circa 1570-76)