The Rape of Lucrece / Stanza 31 Thank you Dave! Could you help me to understand. It is such a beautiful passage but it is difficult to grap. Is longing the eternal joy. Satisfaction is the crown an a toy at the same time. Touching it will end the joy. We better remain longing for it is more satisfying. posted by marc (marc spranger) on 2004-07-26 18:52:59 last updated 2004-07-26 18:52:59
Sell everything--get nothing. The stanza describes several examples of people giving a fortune away to get almost nothing in return. In the line you asked about earlier, the questioner asks who would sell their soul, their hope of eternal life as promised by Christianity, for a cheap toy that might amuse a child? The other lines use different images to say the same thing. The contrast always is that the person gives up something of immense worth to gain practically nothing. posted by Harry (Harry Connors) on 2004-07-26 21:38:47 last updated 2004-07-26 21:38:47
sell enternity to get a toy Your remarks are interesting though they are general. I ask myself whether the stanza could be read as a verdict for Tarquin: he has raped Lucretia and she kills herself as a consequence. Tarquin has to live with his deed. For a minute of plasure he has sold the peace of his soul eternally. I did not find clear evidence that Tarquin was killed in revenge. Was he only exiled? Thanks for your help. posted by marc (marc spranger) on 2004-07-27 15:23:42 last updated 2004-07-27 15:23:42
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