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THE WORKS OF MUSEUS.

THE LOVES OF HERO AND LEANDER.

Oft, by the covert of night's fhade,
Leander woo'd the Thracian maid;
Through foaming feas his paffion bore,
Nor fear'd the ocean's thundering roar.

The confcious virgin, from the fea-girt tower,

Hung out the faithful torch, to guide him to her bower.

DODSLEY'S MISCELL. Vol. iv. p. 308.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Tais celebrated poem on the Loves of Hero and Leander has been admired by the politest scholars for many ages: And though Mr. Waller, and several other writers of the finest taste, have conjectured it to be one of the ftories

Which old Mufæus fo divinely fung,

yet many convincing arguments might be brought to prove it to have been the work of a later au◄ thor, a grammarian of that name, who lived in the fifth century.

Nor let the English reader look upon the title of grammarian as a term of reproach, though now frequently used as fuch. The profeflion styled by the ancients reauparinn, was the fame with the hedes lettres among the moderns: And the appellation of grammarian was particularly applied to thofe who excelled in every kind of polite writing.

The first English tranflation of the following poem appeared in the year 1647, by Sir Robert StaFylton. It has fince that time been frequently attempted; but with what fuccefs, is left to the judgDent of others.

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Abydos, Seftos, ancient towns, proclaim,
Where gentleft bofoms glow'd with purest flame.
I hear Leander dafh the foaming tide!
F'd high in air, I fee the glimmering guide!
The genial flame, the love-enkindling light,
Signal of joy that burn'd ferenely bright:
Whole beams, in fair effulgency difplay'd,
Adora'd the nuptials of the Sestion maid :
Which Jove, its friendly office to repay,
Should plant, all-glorious, in the realms of day,
To blaze for ever midft the ftars above,
And ftyle it gentle harbinger of love:
For fure on earth it fhone fupremely kind,
Teeth the anguish of the love-fick mind,

Till cloth'd in terrors rofe the wint'ry blast,
Impetuous howling o'er the wat'ry wafte:
And, O infpire me, goddefs, to refound
The torch extinguifh'd, and the lover drown'd.
Against Abydos fea-beat Seftos ftood,
Two neighb'ring towns, divided by the flood:
Here Cupid prov'd his bow's unerring art,
And gain'd two conquefts with a single dart:
On two fond hearts the sweet infection prey'd,
A youth engaging, and a beauteous maid:
Of Seftos fhe, fair Hero was her name;
The youth, Leander, from Abydos came.
Their forms divine a bright refemblance bore,
Each was the radiant ftar of either shore.

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Thou, whom the fates commiffion here to
stray,

Awhile the turret's eminence furvey;
Thence Hero held the blazing torch, to guide,

Her lover rolling on the boisterous tide;

The roaring Hellefpont, whofe wave-worn ftrait
Still in loud murmurs mourns Leander's fate.
Say, heav'nly mufe, had Hero charms to move,
And melt the Abydinian into love?
Say, with what wiles the amorous youth infpir'd,
Obtain'd the virgin whom his foul admir'd?

Fair Hero, prieftefs to th' idalian queen,
Of birth illuftrious, as of graceful mien,
Dwelt on a high fequefter'd tower, that flood
Firm on the ramparts, and o'erlook'd the flood:
Chafte, and unconfcious of love's pleasing pain,
She feem'd a new-born Venus of the main;
But, nice of conduct, prudently withdrew
Far from the follies of the female crew:
Bleft in retreat, the fhunn'd the vain delight
Of daily vifits, and the dance at night,
Content in sweet tranquillity to screen
Her blooming beauty from malignant fpleen;
For where fuperior beauty fhines confett,
It kindles envy in each female breast.

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50

To foften Venus oft with prayer she strove,
Oft pour'd libations to the god of love;
Taught by th' example of the heavenly dame,
To dread thofe arrows that were tipt with flame.
Vain all her caution, fruitlefs prov'd her prayer;
Love gains an eafy conqueft o'er the fair.

For now the facred fettival appear'd,
By pious Seftians annually rever'd,
At Venus' fane to pay the rites divine,
And offer incenfe at Adonis' fhrine.
Vaft crowds from all the fea-girt ifles repair,
The day to rev'rence, and the feaft to share.
From flowery Cyprus, circled by the main,
And high Hamenia, hates the youthful train;
Not one remain'd of all the female race
Thy towns, Cythera, and thy groves to grace;
Afar from fpicy Libanus advance

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The throngs unnumber d, skill'd to lead the dance;
From Phrygian plains they hate in thoais away,
And all Abydos celebrates the day.
To Seftos all the mirthful youths repair,
All that admire the gay, the young, the fair;
For amorous twains, when rumour'd feasts invite,.
Joy at the news, and follow with delight, 80
Not to the gods to pay the rites divine,
Or offer incenfe at fome facred fhrine;
Few are their offerings, and concile their prayer,
Who give their whole devotion to the fair.

90

As through the temple pafs'd the Seftian maid, Her face a foften'd dignity difplay'd; Thus filver Cynthia's milder glories rife, To glad the pale dominion of the skies. Her lovely cheeks a pure vermillion fhed, Like rofes beautifully ftreak'd with red: A flowery mead her well-turn'd limbs difclofe, Fraught with the blufhing beauties of the rofe: But when the mov'd, in radiant mantle dreft, Flowers half unveil'd adorn'd her flowing veft, And numerous graces wanton'd on her breaft. The ancient fages made a falfe decree, Who faid, the graces were no more than three; When Hero fmiles, a thousand graces rife, Sport on her cheek, and revel in her eyes. Such various beautiès fure confpir'd to prove 100 The prieflefs worthy of the queen of love.

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They figh, and fend their fouls at every view. Then thus fome ardent youth bespoke the rest, Caft a fond look, and open d all his breaft:

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"I oft at Sparta wondering have beheld "Young maids contending in the lifted field, "Sparta, that boafts the emulated prize "Of faireit virgins, and of brightest eyes; "Yet ne'er till now beheld a nymph fo fair, "Such beauty blended with fuch graceful air: Perhaps (for fure immortal is her race) "Beneath the priestefs Venus hides a grace. My dazzled eyes with conftant gazing tire, "But my fond fancy ever could admire. "O! make me, Venus, partner of her bed, "Though fate that inftant ftrike the lover dead: "Let but my love the heavenly Hero crown, "I on the gods will look fuperior down. "Should you this boon deny, O queen! decree, "To bless my days, a nymph as fair as the!"

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Thus fpoke the general voice; the train apart Conceal the wound deep rankling in the heart. But when Leander faw the blooming fair, 133 Love feiz'd his foul inftead of dumb despair; Refolv'd the lucky moments to improve, He fought occafion to reveal his love; The glorious prize determin'd to obtain, Or perifh for thofe joys he could not gain. Her fparkling eyes inftilling fond defire, Entrane'd his foul, and kindled amorous fire. Such radiant beauty, like the pointed dart, With piercing anguith ftings th'unguarded heart For on the eye the wound is first impreft, Till by degrees it rankles in the breait. Now hope and confidence invade his foul; Then fear and fhame alternately controul: For through his bofom thrill'd: a confcious fham Confefs'd the paffion which it feem'd to blame: Her beauties fix'd him in a wild amaze; Love made him bold, and not afraid to gaze. With step ambiguous, and affected air, 153 The youth advancing fac'd the charming fair: Each amorous glance he caft, though form'd by

art,

Yet fometimes fpoke the language of his heart;
With nods and becks he kept the nymph in play,
And tried all wiles to fteal her foul away.
Soon as the faw the fraudful youth beguil'd,
Fair Hero, confcious of her beauty, fmil'd;
Oft in her veil conceal'd her glowing face,
Sweetly vermillion'd with the rely grace;
Yet all in vain to hide her paffion tries,
She owns it with her love-confenting eyes.
Joy touch'd the bofom of the gentle fwain,
To find his love was not indulg'd in vain.

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Thus chid the maid, as maids are wont to do, And fhow'd her anger, and her fondness too : The wily youth, as thus the fair complain'd, Too well perceiv'd the victory was gain'd: For nymphs enrag'd the more complying prove, And chidings are the harbingers of love. He kifs'd her fnowy neck, her fragrant breast : And thus the tranfport of his foul expreft:

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O lovely fair, in whom combin'd are seen "The charms of Venus, and Minerva's mien ! "For fure no virgin of terreftrial race "Can vie with Hero in the blooms of face : "I deem your lineage from the gods above, "And ftyle you daughter of Saturnian Jove. "B'eft is the father from whofe loins you fprung, 'Bleft is the mother at whofe breaft you hung, Bleft, doubly bleft, the fruitful womb that bore "This heavenly form for mortals to adore. "Yet, beauteous Hero, grant a lover's prayer, And to my wishes prove as kind as fair: "As Venus' prieftefs juft to Venus prove, "Nor fhun the gentie offices of love. "O let us, while the happy hour invites, Propitious, celebrate the nuptial rites.

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"No maid can ferve in Cytherea's fane; "Her eyes delight not in the virgin train. "But would fair Hero fecret rites explore, "The laws of Venus, and her pleasing lore, Thofe rites are practis'd in the bridal bed, 220 And there muft Hero, yet a maid, be led : Then as you fear the goddess to offend, In me behold your husband and your friend,

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"Ordain'd by Cupid, greatest god above, "To teach you all the myfteries of love: "As winged Mercury, with golden wand, "Made Hercules, with diftaff in his hand, "To every talk of Omphale fubmit; "Thus love, more powerful than the god of wit, "Sent me to you. 'Tis needlefs to relate "The chafte Arcadian Atalanta's fate; "Who from th' embraces of Milanion fled, "Her faithful lover, and the nuptial bed: "But vengeful Venus caus'd the nymph to burn With equal flame, and languish in her turn. "O let example warn you to revere "The wrathful goddefs, and your lover hear!" Thus fpoke the youth-his magic words con

troul

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Her wavering breast, and soften all her foul.
Silent fhe flood, and, rapt in thought profound,"
Her modeft eyes were fix'd upon the ground:
Her cheeks fhe hid, in rofy blushes dreft,
And veil'd her lily fhoulders with her veft:
On the rich floor, with Parian marble laid,
Her nimble foot involuntary play'd.
By fecret figns a yielding mind is meant ;
And filence fpeaks the willing maid's confent.
Now had the wily god's envenom'd dart
Diffus'd the pleafing poifon to her heart;
Leander's form, infilling foft defire,
Woo'd her pleas'd eyes, and fet her foul on fire.
While on the ground fair Hero fix'd her sight,
Leander view'd, with exquifite delight,
Her fwelling breaft, and neck as ivory white. S

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At length her face with lovely blushes spread She rais'd, and thus in fweet confufion faid: "Stranger, thy words fuch magic founds con

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"How can a stranger Hero's love obtain? "Should I in public give to thee my hand, "My parents would forbia the nuptial band; "And should't thou here in clofe concealment "Our fecret paffion would itfelf betray:

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For foon the voice of fcandal-fpreading fame "The deed of filence would aloud proclaim 270 "But, gentle youth, thy name, thy country tell; "For mine, alas! by thee are known too well. "In yon high tower, which clofe to Seftos ftands, "And all the roaring Hellefpont commands, "With one attending damfel I remain ;

"For fo my parents and the fates ordain! "No nymphs coeval to fweet mufic's found "Lead the footh dance, or lightly beat the

"ground;

"But ftormy winds eternal difcord keep, "And bluftering bellow through the boundless 280

" deep."

Thus fpoke the priestefs; and with modeft grace, Conceal'd the new-born beauties of her face;

For on her cheeks the rofeate blufh that hung
Seem'd to condemn the language of her tongue.
Meanwhile Leander feeds the hidden fire,
Glow in each vein, and burns with fierce defire:
But anxious doubt his musing breast alarms;
How fhall he gain admittance to her charms?
Nor long he paus'd, for love in wiles abounds,
Well pleas'd to heal the bofoms which he wounds;
'Twas he, whofe arrows men and gods controul,
That heal'd Leander's love-affli&ted foul:
Who thus, while fighs upheav'd his anxious breast,
The nymph with artful eloquence addrest:

"For thee, dear object of my fond defire, "I'll cross the ocean though it flame with fire: "Nor would I fear the billow's loud alarms, "While every billow bore me to thy arms; "Uncheck'd, undaunted by the boisterous main, "Tempestuous winds fhould round me roar in "vain:

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"But oft as night her fable pinions fpread, "I through the form would fwim to Hero's bed: "For rich Abydos is the home I boast, "Not far divided from the Thracian coaft. "Let but my fair a kindly torch display, "From the high turret to direct my way; "Then fhall thy daring fwain fecurely glide, "The bark of Cupid o'er the yielding tide, "Thyself my haven, and thy torch my guide: " And while I view the genial blaze afar, I'll fwim regardless of Boötes' car, "Of fell Orion, and the Northern Wain "That never bathes his brightness in the main : "Thy far, more eminently bright than they, "Shall lead the lover to his blifsful bay. "But let the torth, O nymph divinely fair! "My only fafety be thy only care!

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"Guard well its light when wint'ry tempefts roar, "And hoarfe waves break tumultuous on the "fhore,

"Left the dire ftorms that blacken all the sky,
"The flame extinguish, and the lover die. 321
"More would't thou know? Leander is my name,
"The happieft husband of the faireft dame."

Thus mutual vow'd the lovers to employ
The nights in raptures of myfterious joy;
Her task, fecure th' extended torch to keep,
And his, to crofs th' unfathomable deep:
On promis'd blifs their fruitful fancies fed,
Ecftatic pleafures of the nuptial bed;

}

Till the fond nymph, when decency requir'd, 321
Back to her tower unwillingly retir'd;
Leander ere he left his lovely bride,
Mark'd well the ftation of the blazing guide,
Then fought Abydos crofs the founding tide.
What now but amorous fcenes their thoughts
employ,

Confus'd ideas of the genial joy?

340

Slow rofe on leaden wings the morning light,
Slow noon came on-the lovers with'd it night.
At length dark gloom a dufky mantle fpread;
Sleep o'er the world his balmy influence shed.
All but Leander lay diffolv'd in reft,
Love kept a ceafelefs vigil in his breaft.
Silent he wander'd on the winding shore,
The deep refounded with tremenduous roar :

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But when he heard the hoarfe-refounding roar Of thundering billows breaking on the fhore, Aghaft he stood, he fhrunk, and thus addreft Thefe words of courage to his trembling breaft:

"Ah cruel love! whofe woe the waves confpire! "The waves are water, but I burn with fire; "Be bold my heart, the foaming billows brave, "Nor fear the threat'nings of the wint'ry wave. "Fair Venus rofe propitious from the main; "She calms the ocean's rage, and fooths the lo"ver's pain."

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He fpoke, and straight his lovely limbs undreft, And folded round his head the various veft; Then, dauntless, plunging in the foaming tide, Dafh'd with his arms th' intruding waves afide: Full in his view he kept the fhining mark, Himfelf the pilot, paffenger, and bark. While faithful Hero, to her promise true, Watch'd on the turret every wind that blew; Oft with her robe fhe fcreen'd the torch's blaze From dangerous blafts that blew a thousand ways: Till the tir'd youth, on rolling furges toft, Securely landed on the Seftian coaft. Soon as the faw her lover fafe on shore, Eager the ran, and led him to her tower, Welcom'd with open arms her panting guest, And, fweetly fmiling, to her bofom prest: 380 Then dumb with joy the fhivering youth she led, Still wet and weary to the genial bed, Wip'd his fair limbs, and fragrant oils apply'd, To cleanfe his body from the oozy tide; Then clafp'd him clofe, ftill panting, to her breaft, And thus with fond endearing words addrest:

"My life, my lover, thou haft fuffer'd more "Than fondeft bridegroom e'er endur'd before: "Deftin'd, alas! dread troubles to sustain "On the rough bofom of the briny main : 299 "Now let fweet joy fucceed in forrow's place, "And lull thy labours in my warm embrace."

She fpoke: He loos'd her virgin zone to prove
The facred rites and myfteries of love [crown'd,
No youths with meafur'd dance the nuptials
Nor tuneful Hymen's congratulating found:
No bard invok'd the heavenly queen with prayer,
To fmile propitious on the wedded pair:
No nuptial torch its golden luftre fhed,
Bright torch of love to grace the bridal bed! 400
No lo Paans mufically rung;

No greeting parents Hymeneals fung:
But all was gloom, and filence all around,
Inftead of mufic's love-infpiring found.
Beneath the covert of the night conceal'd,
They tafted pleasures mutual faith had seal'd;

In clofe embraces all entranc'd they lay,
In raptures never ufher'd to the day:
Till the fond youth reluctant left his bride,
Still breathing love, and croft'd the foaming tide.
Thus Hero liv'd unnotted, unbetray'd, 411
Each night a woman, and each day a maid.
Both with'd the hours on fwifteft wings would fly,
And hail'd the evening, not the morning sky.
Thus rapt in hidden joys, each blifsful night
They paft in ecftacies of full delight:
But foon, alas! thofe dear-bought pleasures fled,
And fhort the tranfports of that bridal bed!

For now relentless winter, that deforms
With frost the foreft, and the fea with ftorms, 4c0
Bade the wild winds o'er all the ocean reign,
And raife the rapid whirlpools of the main;
The heart wild winds obey, and, with harfh found,
Boar o'er the furface of the vast profound,
Rouze from their beds the scatter'd ftorms that
fleep

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In the dark caverns of the dreary deep:
The trembling failor hears the dreadful roar,
Nor dares the wint'ry turbulence explore,
But drags his veffel to the fafer shore.
But thee, bold youth, no wint'ry storms reftrain,
Nor all the deathful dangers of the main. 431
For when thou fawit the torch's blaze from far,
(Of nuptial blifs the bright prophetic star)
Thee not the furious tempeft could controul,
Nor calm the glowing raptures of the soul.
Yet fure fair Hero, when the gloomy sky
With gathering clouds proclaim'd rough winter
nigh,

Without her lover fhould have pass'd the night,
Nor from the tower, ill-omen'd, shown the light,
But fhe, ah hapless! burns with fond defire, 440
'Tis love inflames her while the fates confpire:
The torch of death now glimmer'd from above,
No more the gentle harbinger of love.

'Twas night, and ang y Eolus had hurl'd The winds tempeftuous o'er the wat'ry world; The bellowing winds with rage impetuous roar, And dafh the foaming billows on the fhore: Ev'n then the youth, with pleafing vifions fed, Glows with remembrance of the bridal bed;

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And while fierce tempefts howl on every side,
Float on the bofom of the briny tide.
Waves roll'd on waves, in hideous heaps are driven,
Swell'd into mountains, and upheav'd to heaven:
Bleak-blafts, loud roaring, the vex'd ocean sweep,
Foam the dafh'd billows, and refounds the deep.
From every part the biuftering terrors fly,
Rage o'er the main, and battle in the sky.
The growling thunder of the vast profound
The rocks rebellow, and the fhores rebound.
Amidst the wat'ry war, with toils opprefs'd 46
O'erwhelm'd with billows, and in gulfs distress'd,
Leander oft with fuppliant prayer implor'd
The fea-fprung goddefs, and old ocean's lord:
Thee, Borcas, too he fummon'd to his aid,
Nor was unmindful of th Athenian maid;
But prayers are fruitless, and petitions vain;
Love muft fubmit to what the fates ordain.
From wave to wave the hapless youth is toft,
Now heav'd on high, and now in whirlpools loft;
His weary'd feet no more his will obey,
His arms bang ufelefs, and forget to play.
Borne on the furge fupine, and void of breath
He drinks the briny wave, and draws in death.
Thus while in fatal rage each wind confpires,
Extinct at once the flame, and lovers fires,
Fainting he finks, and with the torch expires.

While on the turret Hero moura'd his itay,
And fondly fighing, chid his long delay,
Perplexing anguifh in her hofom rofe,
Nor knew her eyes the bleflings of repose.

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Now rofe the morn, in ruffet veft array'd, Still from th' impatient fair the lever ftay'd: Watchful the ftood, and caft her eyes around O'er the wide beach, and o'er the depths profound, Haply to fpy her lover fhould he fray, The light extinguifh'd 'midft the wat'ry way: But when the faw him breathlefs on the fand, Stretch'd, ghaftly pale, by death's relentless hand, She fhriek'd aloud; and from her throbbing breast Rent the gay honours of her flowery veft; Then from the tower her beauteous body caft, And on her lover's bofom breath'd her laft: Nor could the fates this faithful pair divide They liv'd united, and united died.

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NOTES ON HERO AND LEANDER.

Ver. 23. Abydos was a city of Afia, fituated on the Heliefpont, over-against Seftos, a city in the Thracian Cherfonnefus. Geographers are of opinina, that the cafiles of the Dardanelles were baik on the ruins of these two places: But they are manifeftly mistaken; for there are no remains of antiquity to be feen near those caftler, but very markable ones three miles farther, where the chanel is confiderably narrower. Le Brun affires us, that the ftrait at these ruins is only half a mile over, and that one of them is still called Silos, and the other Abydos or Avido. Pliny

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