![]() He said that next to her dead body he would place the corpse of a slave with his throat cut. But when he saw that the fear of death was having no effect, he tried that of dishonour. Tarquinius confessed his love and tried to persuade her with a combination of entreaties and threats. One sound and you will die.’ The terrified woman, awakened like that, was sure she was going to die. With his left hand he pinned her to the bed and said, ‘Not a sound, Lucretia. When he was sure everyone in the house was asleep, he went, with his sword drawn, to Lucretia’s room, where she was asleep. The household received him warmly, as no one realized why he had come, and after dinner he was shown to the guestroom already seething with passion. That was when Sextus Tarquinius became inflamed by lust and became possessed by the idea of raping Lucretia.Ī few days later, unbeknownst to Collatinus, Sextus Tarquinius returned to Collatia with a single companion. She greeted her husband and the Tarquins, and the victorious husband graciously invited the others to dine. There was no question who won the contest. They continued on to Collatia to check on Lucretia, whom they found, not at dinner like the others, but in the atrium of the house, with only her maidservants, working at her wool by lamplight. ![]() There they found the daughters-in-law of the king banqueting with their friends. ‘Let’s go!’ they cried and flew off towards Rome, which they reached as twilight was falling. Then we’ll see with our own eyes how our wives behave when we’re not around.’ The wine had got them fired up. Why don’t we get on our horses and make a surprise visit. Collatinus said there was no need for all the talk as only a few hours were needed to prove beyond a doubt that his wife was the most virtuous. Each one praised his own, and the discussion heated up. While they were drinking at Sextus Tarquinius’ house, where Tarquinius Collatinus, son of Egerius, was also dining, the conversation happened to turn to their wives.
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