Hero and Leander | Page 3

all things, so save thou one.?A stately builded ship, well rigged and tall,?The ocean maketh more majestical.?Why vowest thou then to live in Sestos here?Who on Love's seas more glorious wouldst appear??Like untuned golden strings all women are,?Which long time lie untouched, will harshly jar.?Vessels of brass, oft handled, brightly shine.?What difference betwixt the richest mine?And basest mould, but use? For both, not used,?Are of like worth. Then treasure is abused?When misers keep it; being put to loan,?In time it will return us two for one.?Rich robes themselves and others do adorn;?Neither themselves nor others, if not worn.?Who builds a palace and rams up the gate?Shall see it ruinous and desolate.?Ah, simple Hero, learn thyself to cherish.?Lone women like to empty houses perish.?Less sins the poor rich man that starves himself?In heaping up a mass of drossy pelf,?Than such as you. His golden earth remains?Which, after his decease, some other gains.?But this fair gem, sweet in the loss alone,?When you fleet hence, can be bequeathed to none.?Or, if it could, down from th'enameled sky?All heaven would come to claim this legacy,?And with intestine broils the world destroy,?And quite confound nature's sweet harmony.?Well therefore by the gods decreed it is?We human creatures should enjoy that bliss.?One is no number; maids are nothing then?Without the sweet society of men.?Wilt thou live single still? One shalt thou be,?Though never singling Hymen couple thee.?Wild savages, that drink of running springs,?Think water far excels all earthly things,?But they that daily taste neat wine despise it.?Virginity, albeit some highly prize it,?Compared with marriage, had you tried them both,?Differs as much as wine and water doth.?Base bullion for the stamp's sake we allow;?Even so for men's impression do we you,?By which alone, our reverend fathers say,?Women receive perfection every way.?This idol which you term virginity?Is neither essence subject to the eye?No, nor to any one exterior sense,?Nor hath it any place of residence,?Nor is't of earth or mould celestial,?Or capable of any form at all.?Of that which hath no being do not boast;?Things that are not at all are never lost.?Men foolishly do call it virtuous;?What virtue is it that is born with us??Much less can honour be ascribed thereto;?Honour is purchased by the deeds we do.?Believe me, Hero, honour is not won?Until some honourable deed be done.?Seek you for chastity, immortal fame,?And know that some have wronged Diana's name??Whose name is it, if she be false or not?So she be fair, but some vile tongues will blot??But you are fair, (ay me) so wondrous fair,?So young, so gentle, and so debonair,?As Greece will think if thus you live alone?Some one or other keeps you as his own.?Then, Hero, hate me not nor from me fly?To follow swiftly blasting infamy.?Perhaps thy sacred priesthood makes thee loath.?Tell me, to whom mad'st thou that heedless oath?"
"To Venus," answered she and, as she spake,?Forth from those two tralucent cisterns brake?A stream of liquid pearl, which down her face?Made milk-white paths, whereon the gods might trace?To Jove's high court.?He thus replied: "The rites?In which love's beauteous empress most delights?Are banquets, Doric music, midnight revel,?Plays, masks, and all that stern age counteth evil.?Thee as a holy idiot doth she scorn?For thou in vowing chastity hast sworn?To rob her name and honour, and thereby?Committ'st a sin far worse than perjury,?Even sacrilege against her deity,?Through regular and formal purity.?To expiate which sin, kiss and shake hands.?Such sacrifice as this Venus demands."
Thereat she smiled and did deny him so,?As put thereby, yet might he hope for moe.?Which makes him quickly re-enforce his speech,?And her in humble manner thus beseech.?"Though neither gods nor men may thee deserve,?Yet for her sake, whom you have vowed to serve,?Abandon fruitless cold virginity,?The gentle queen of love's sole enemy.?Then shall you most resemble Venus' nun,?When Venus' sweet rites are performed and done.?Flint-breasted Pallas joys in single life,?But Pallas and your mistress are at strife.?Love, Hero, then, and be not tyrannous,?But heal the heart that thou hast wounded thus,?Nor stain thy youthful years with avarice.?Fair fools delight to be accounted nice.?The richest corn dies, if it be not reaped;?Beauty alone is lost, too warily kept."
These arguments he used, and many more,?Wherewith she yielded, that was won before.?Hero's looks yielded but her words made war.?Women are won when they begin to jar.?Thus, having swallowed Cupid's golden hook,?The more she strived, the deeper was she strook.?Yet, evilly feigning anger, strove she still?And would be thought to grant against her will.?So having paused a while at last she said,?"Who taught thee rhetoric to deceive a maid??Ay me, such words as these should I abhor?And yet I like them for the orator."
With that Leander stooped to have embraced her?But from his spreading arms away she cast her,?And thus bespake him: "Gentle youth, forbear?To touch the sacred garments which I wear.?Upon a rock and underneath a