Hero and Leander | Page 4

hill?Far from the town (where all is whist and still,?Save that the sea, playing on yellow sand,?Sends forth a rattling murmur to the land,?Whose sound allures the golden Morpheus?In silence of the night to visit us)?My turret stands and there, God knows, I play.?With Venus' swans and sparrows all the day.?A dwarfish beldam bears me company,?That hops about the chamber where I lie,?And spends the night (that might be better spent)?In vain discourse and apish merriment.?Come thither." As she spake this, her tongue tripped,?For unawares "come thither" from her slipped.?And suddenly her former colour changed,?And here and there her eyes through anger ranged.?And like a planet, moving several ways,?At one self instant she, poor soul, assays,?Loving, not to love at all, and every part?Strove to resist the motions of her heart.?And hands so pure, so innocent, nay, such?As might have made heaven stoop to have a touch,?Did she uphold to Venus, and again?Vowed spotless chastity, but all in vain.?Cupid beats down her prayers with his wings,?Her vows above the empty air he flings,?All deep enraged, his sinewy bow he bent,?And shot a shaft that burning from him went,?Wherewith she strooken, looked so dolefully,?As made love sigh to see his tyranny.?And as she wept her tears to pearl he turned,?And wound them on his arm and for her mourned.?Then towards the palace of the destinies?Laden with languishment and grief he flies,?And to those stern nymphs humbly made request?Both might enjoy each other, and be blest.?But with a ghastly dreadful countenance,?Threatening a thousand deaths at every glance,?They answered Love, nor would vouchsafe so much?As one poor word, their hate to him was such.?Hearken a while and I will tell you why.?Heaven's winged herald, Jove-borne Mercury,?The selfsame day that he asleep had laid?Enchanted Argus, spied a country maid?Whose careless hair instead of pearl t'adorn it?Glistered with dew, as one that seemed to scorn it;?Her breath as fragrant as the morning rose,?Her mind pure, and her tongue untaught to gloze.?Yet proud she was (for lofty pride that dwells?In towered courts is oft in shepherds' cells.)?And too too well the fair vermilion knew,?And silver tincture of her cheeks, that drew?The love of every swain. On her this god?Enamoured was, and with his snaky rod?Did charm her nimble feet, and made her stay,?The while upon a hillock down he lay?And sweetly on his pipe began to play,?And with smooth speech her fancy to assay,?Till in his twining arms he locked her fast?And then he wooed with kisses; and at last,?As shepherds do, her on the ground he laid?And, tumbling in the grass, he often strayed?Beyond the bounds of shame, in being bold?To eye those parts which no eye should behold.?And, like an insolent commanding lover?Boasting his parentage, would needs discover?The way to new Elysium, but she,?Whose only dower was her chastity,?Having striv'n in vain was now about to cry?And crave the help of shepherds that were nigh.?Herewith he stayed his fury, and began?To give her leave to rise. Away she ran;?After went Mercury who used such cunning?As she, to hear his tale, left off her running.?Maids are not won by brutish force and might,?But speeches full of pleasure, and delight.?And, knowing Hermes courted her, was glad?That she such loveliness and beauty had?As could provoke his liking, yet was mute?And neither would deny nor grant his suit.?Still vowed he love. She, wanting no excuse?To feed him with delays, as women use,?Or thirsting after immortality,--?All women are ambitious naturally--?Imposed upon her lover such a task?As he ought not perform nor yet she ask.?A draught of flowing nectar she requested,?Wherewith the king of gods and men is feasted.?He, ready to accomplish what she willed,?Stole some from Hebe (Hebe Jove's cup filled)?And gave it to his simple rustic love.?Which being known (as what is hid from Jove?)?He inly stormed and waxed more furious?Than for the fire filched by Prometheus,?And thrusts him down from heaven. He, wandering here,?In mournful terms, with sad and heavy cheer,?Complained to Cupid. Cupid for his sake,?To be revenged on Jove did undertake.?And those on whom heaven, earth, and hell relies,?I mean the adamantine Destinies,?He wounds with love, and forced them equally?To dote upon deceitful Mercury.?They offered him the deadly fatal knife?That shears the slender threads of human life.?At his fair feathered feet the engines laid?Which th' earth from ugly Chaos' den upweighed.?These he regarded not but did entreat?That Jove, usurper of his father's seat,?Might presently be banished into hell,?And aged Saturn in Olympus dwell.?They granted what he craved, and once again?Saturn and Ops began their golden reign.?Murder, rape, war, lust, and treachery,?Were with Jove closed in Stygian empery.?But long this blessed time continued not.?As soon as he his wished purpose got?He reckless of his promise did despise?The love of th' everlasting Destinies.?They seeing it both love and him abhorred?And Jupiter unto his place restored.?And but that