Livy I 57 p. 73

Livy I 57 p. 73

Forte potantibus his apud Sex. Tarquinium, ubi et Collatinus cenabat Tarquinius, Egeri filius, incidit de uxoribus mentio. Suam quisque uxorem laudabat miris modis;

Luckily, when his men were drinking near Sex. Tarquinius, and where Collatinus Tarquinius was eating, son of Egerus, mention of their wives came up. Each one praised his wife in extravagant ways.

inde certamen quoddam est exortum: Collatinus negat verbis opus esse; dixit paucis id quidem horis posse sciri quantum ceteris praestet Lucretia sua.

then a certain competition broke out: Collatinus denied there was a need for words; he said that it indeed could be known in a little time how much his own Lucretia surpassed the others.

“Quin, si vigor iuventae inest, conscendimus equos invisimusque praesentes nostrarum (feminarum) ingenia? Id cuique spectatissimum sit quod necopinato viri adventu occurrerit oculis.”

“If there is power in youth, why don’t we mount our horses and go see for ourselves the nature of our (women)? Let the best test for each one be this thing which will meet the eyes at the unexpected arrival of (her) husband.”

Incaluerant vino; “Age sane” omnes. Citatis equis avolant Romam.

They were warm with wine; “Let’s do it” said everyone. At full gallop they hurried off to Rome.

Quo cum, primis se intendentibus tenebris, pervenissent, pergunt inde Collatiam, ubi Lucretiam, haudquaquam ut regias nurus, quas in convivio luxuque cum aequalibus viderant tempus terentes, sed nocte sera deditam lanae inter lucubrantes ancillas in medio aedium sedentem inveniunt.

To which place after they had arrived while the shadows were stretching themselves (=> After they had arrived there when the sun was going down), they proceeded from there to Collatia, where they found Lucretia not as (they found) the daughters-in-law of the king, whom they had seen wasting their time by a luxurious feast with their peers, but (they found Lucretia) devoted to her wool though late at night and sitting in the middle of the house amongst her maids who were working  by lamp-light.

Muliebris certaminis laus penes Lucretiam fuit. Adveniens vir Tarquiniique excepti (sunt) benigne; victor maritus comiter invitat regios iuvenes.

Praise of the competition about wives was given to Lucretia. Her approaching husband and the Tarquins were kindly received; the victorious husband politely invited the royal youths.

Ibi Sex. Tarquinium mala libido Lucretiae per vim stuprandae capit; cum forma, tum spectata castitas incitat. Et tum quidem ab nocturne iuvenali ludo in castra redeunt.

There an evil desire seized Sex. Tarquinius to corrupt by force Lucretia; not only her beauty but also her proven chastity aroused (him). And then finally they returned to the camp after their nocturnal youthful play.