When the sons of Tarquin returned with their cousin, L. Junius Brutus, they found the king at war with the Rutulians of Ardea.  Being unable to take the place by storm, he was forced to blockade it; and while the Roman army was encamped before the town the young men used to amuse themselves at night with wine and wassail.  One night there was a feast, at which Sextus, the king’s third son, was present, as also Collatinus, the son of Egerius, the king’s uncle, who had been made governor of Collatia.  So they soon began to dispute about the worthiness of their wives; and when each maintained that his own wife was worthiest, “Come, gentlemen,” said Collatinus, “let us take horse and see what our wives are doing; they expect us not, and so we shall know the truth.”  All agreed, and they galloped to Rome, and there they found the wives of all the others feasting and revelling:  but when they came to Collatia they found Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus, not making merry like the rest, but sitting in the midst of her handmaids carding wool and spinning; so they all allowed that Lucretia was the worthiest.

Now Lucretia was the daughter of a noble Roman, Spurius Lucretius, who was at this time prefect of the city; for it was the custom, when the kings went out to war, that they left a chief man at home to administer all things in the king’s name, and he was called prefect of the city.

But it chanced that Sextus, the king’s son, when he saw the fair Lucretia, was smitten with lustful passion; and a few days after he came again to Collatia, and Lucretia entertained him hospitably as her husband’s cousin and friend.  But at midnight he arose and came with stealthy steps to her bedside:  and holding a sword in his right hand, and laying his left hand upon her breast, he bade her yield to his wicked desires; for if not, he would slay her and lay one of her slaves beside her, and would declare that he had taken them in adultery.  So for shame she consented to that which no fear would have wrung from her:  and Sextus, having wrought this deed of shame, returned to the camp.

Then Lucretia sent to Rome for her father, and to the camp at Ardea for her husband.  They came in haste.  Lucretius brought with him P. Valerius, and Collatinus brought L. Junius Brutus, his cousin, And they came in and asked if all was well Then she told them what was done:  “but,” she said, “my body only has suffered the shame, for my will consented not to the deed.  Therefore,” she cried, “avenge me on the wretch Sextus.  As for me, though my heart has not sinned, I can live no longer.  No one shall say that Lucretia set an example of living in unchastity.”  So she drew forth a knife and stabbed herself to the heart.