Act I, Prologue The Male and Female Choruses recount how Tarquinius Superbus seized Rome and how his son Tarquinius Sextus became a warrior leader. Scene 1 - In an army camp outside Rome Tarquinius, Collatinus, and Junius are drinking and talking together. The previous night, six generals had ridden home unexpectedly to Rome to check on their wives, all of whom were caught betraying their husbands. The exception was Collatinus' wife, Lucretia. Junius, whose wife was among the faithless majority, argues with young Tarquinius but is stopped by Collatinus who wishes to toast his wife. Junius is frustrated by all of the praise for Lucretia and leaves the discussion. Collatinus soon joins him and rebukes his poor attitude. The two shake hands and are joined by a drunken Tarquinius. Collatinus leaves them to retire and they begin to talk again of Lucretia. Tarquinius annouces "I'll prove her chaste!" and calls for his horse. Scene 2 - At Collatinus' house in Rome Lucretia is sewing with her servants Bianca and Lucia, when she thinks she hears a knock at the gate. As the women prepare for bed, Tarquinius is at the door. He asks for wine and lodging, saying that his horse is lame, and Lucretia gives him a room for the night. Act II, Scene 1 - At Collatinus' house in Rome As Lucretia sleeps, Tarquinius creeps into her bedroom and awakens her with a kiss. She asks him to leave and they struggle until Tarquinius draws his sword and forces himself on her. Scene 2 - At Collatinus' house in Rome The following morning, Lucia and Bianca are glad to discover that Tarquinius has already left the house and go about arranging flowers. Lucretia enters in a trance-like state. She is repulsed by the flowers, and chooses an orchid to be sent to Collatinus, bitterly saying that it represents her purity. Bianca tries to stop the messenger, but Collatinus has already arrived at his home with Junius, who alerted him that Tarquinius had left the army camp. Lucretia enters in mourning and tells Collatinus what has happened. He forgives her, but she stabs herself to death.
Act I, Prologue
The Male and Female Choruses recount how Tarquinius Superbus seized Rome and how his son Tarquinius Sextus became a warrior leader.
Scene 1 - In an army camp outside Rome
Tarquinius, Collatinus, and Junius are drinking and talking together. The previous night, six generals had ridden home unexpectedly to Rome to check on their wives, all of whom were caught betraying their husbands. The exception was Collatinus' wife, Lucretia.
Junius, whose wife was among the faithless majority, argues with young Tarquinius but is stopped by Collatinus who wishes to toast his wife. Junius is frustrated by all of the praise for Lucretia and leaves the discussion. Collatinus soon joins him and rebukes his poor attitude. The two shake hands and are joined by a drunken Tarquinius. Collatinus leaves them to retire and they begin to talk again of Lucretia. Tarquinius annouces "I'll prove her chaste!" and calls for his horse.
Scene 2 - At Collatinus' house in Rome
Lucretia is sewing with her servants Bianca and Lucia, when she thinks she hears a knock at the gate. As the women prepare for bed, Tarquinius is at the door. He asks for wine and lodging, saying that his horse is lame, and Lucretia gives him a room for the night.
Act II, Scene 1 - At Collatinus' house in Rome
As Lucretia sleeps, Tarquinius creeps into her bedroom and awakens her with a kiss. She asks him to leave and they struggle until Tarquinius draws his sword and forces himself on her.
The following morning, Lucia and Bianca are glad to discover that Tarquinius has already left the house and go about arranging flowers. Lucretia enters in a trance-like state. She is repulsed by the flowers, and chooses an orchid to be sent to Collatinus, bitterly saying that it represents her purity. Bianca tries to stop the messenger, but Collatinus has already arrived at his home with Junius, who alerted him that Tarquinius had left the army camp.
Lucretia enters in mourning and tells Collatinus what has happened. He forgives her, but she stabs herself to death.
