Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita 1.58.3-4

Livy describes how the terrified Lucretia sees no help at hand as death looms near, while Sextus Tarquinius pleads his love, mixes prayers with threats, and tries every means to bend her will, and when he sees she remains unmoved even by fear of death, he adds the threat of disgrace, saying he will place the body of a slain slave beside her so that she will be said to have been killed in sordid adultery.

 

Tier 1

Cum Lucretia perterrita ex somno excitata videret nullum auxilium prope mortem imminentem,

tum Tarquinius coepit fateri amorem, sperare, miscere minas precibus et petere femininum animum omnibus modis.

Cum Tarquinius videbat Lucretiam obstinatam et metum mortis non cogere Lucretiam, Tarquinius addit indignitatem ad metum:

Tarquinius dixit nudum servum mortuum positurum esse cum mortua Lucretia ut dicatur mortua in sordido adulterio.

Written by Robert Amstutz