LUCRECE, LUCRESSE. Lucretia, fl. late sixth century B.C., daughter of the consul Lucretius, was the wife of Tarquinius Collatinus, an officer in the Roman army. During a break in the fighting during the siege of Ardea, the officers were entertained at a feast. Collatinus boasted of his wife's fidelity and beauty and suggested that they all ride off to Collatia to prove the truth of his boast. When he reached his house, Collatinus found his wife Lucretia spinning with her maids. Sextus Tarquinius, Collatinus's cousin, immediately caught fire with lust for Lucretia. He later returned to the house, and Lucretia welcomed him as a relative. She prepared a meal for him, but after the meal Tarquinius pulled his sword and threatened her with death unless she yielded to his lust. After he had threatened her several times, she at length gave way. When day came, she sent for her father and her husband and told them what had happened. They forgave her, but Lucretia stabbed herself and fell dead at their feet (Fasti II.685-852; Livy, Ab urbe condita liber I.57-59). The virtue of Lucretia is a medieval commonplace. Augustine emphasizes the inappropriateness of her suicide, The City of God I.18, in a comparison of Christian and pagan virtue. Jealous Husband tells the story and says that there are no more Lucretias in Rome, RR 8608-8642. Gower uses the story to illustrate unchastity, Confessio Amantis VII.4754-5130.
Lucretia is exemplary of wifely virtue, MLI 63; FranklT 1405; BD 1087; Anel 82. Lucresse is a virtuous wife, but Alceste surpasses her, LGW F 257, LGW G 211. The full story appears in LGW 1680-1885. [Augustin: Brutus2: Colatyn: Livius: Tarquinius Superbus]
Lucrece is the French variant of Latin Lucretia, feminine of Lucretius, the name of a Roman clan. It occurs only in final rhyming position, BD 1082. Lucresse, a pronunciation variant, never appears initially; it appears four times in medial positions, MLI 63; FranklT 1405; LGW F 257, LGW G 211; LGW 1691; and four times in final rhyming position, Anel 82; LGW 1686, 1786, 1872.