THE WORKS OF MUSEUS. THE LOVES OF HERO AND LEANDER. Oft, by the covert of night's fhade, 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. IO Abydos, Seftos, ancient towns, proclaim, Till cloth'd in terrors rofe the wint'ry blast, 20 30 Thou, whom the fates commiffion here to Awhile the turret's eminence furvey; Her lover rolling on the boisterous tide; The roaring Hellefpont, whofe wave-worn ftrait Fair Hero, prieftefs to th' idalian queen, 40 50 To foften Venus oft with prayer she strove, For now the facred fettival appear'd, 62 71 The throngs unnumber d, skill'd to lead the dance; 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. .1 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: 120 "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!" 14 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; 160 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: 199 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. 211 "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, 230 "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 242 Her wavering breast, and soften all her foul. 250 At length her face with lovely blushes spread She rais'd, and thus in fweet confufion faid: "Stranger, thy words fuch magic founds con "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: [ftay 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 "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: 300 "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! 320 "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, Thus mutual vow'd the lovers to employ } Till the fond nymph, when decency requir'd, 321 Confus'd ideas of the genial joy? 340 Slow rofe on leaden wings the morning light, 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." 370 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 No greeting parents Hymeneals fung: In clofe embraces all entranc'd they lay, For now relentless winter, that deforms } In the dark caverns of the dreary deep: Without her lover fhould have pass'd the night, '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; 45 And while fierce tempefts howl on every side, While on the turret Hero moura'd his itay, 470 48€ 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. 490 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 |