Hero and Leander | Page 5

Learning in despite of Fate?Will mount aloft and enter heaven gate?And to the seat of Jove itself advance,?Hermes had slept in hell with Ignorance.?Yet as a punishment they added this,?That he and Poverty should always kiss.?And to this day is every scholar poor;?Gross gold from them runs headlong to the boor.?Likewise the angry Sisters thus deluded,?To venge themselves on Hermes, have concluded?That Midas' brood shall sit in honour's chair,?To which the Muses' sons are only heir;?And fruitful wits, that in aspiring are,?Shall discontent run into regions far;?And few great lords in virtuous deeds shall joy?But be surprised with every garish toy,?And still enrich the lofty servile clown,?Who with encroaching guile keeps learning down.?Then Muse not Cupid's suit no better sped,?Seeing in their loves the Fates were injured.
(The end of the First Sestiad)
SECOND SESTIAD
By this, sad Hero, with love unacquainted,?Viewing Leander's face, fell down and fainted.?He kissed her and breathed life into her lips,?Wherewith as one displeased away she trips.?Yet, as she went, full often looked behind,?And many poor excuses did she find?To linger by the way, and once she stayed,?And would have turned again, but was afraid,?In offering parley, to be counted light.?So on she goes and in her idle flight?Her painted fan of curled plumes let fall,?Thinking to train Leander therewithal.?He, being a novice, knew not what she meant?But stayed, and after her a letter sent,?Which joyful Hero answered in such sort,?As he had hope to scale the beauteous fort?Wherein the liberal Graces locked their wealth,?And therefore to her tower he got by stealth.?Wide open stood the door, he need not climb,?And she herself before the pointed time?Had spread the board, with roses strowed the room,?And oft looked out, and mused he did not come.?At last he came.?O who can tell the greeting?These greedy lovers had at their first meeting.?He asked, she gave, and nothing was denied.?Both to each other quickly were affied.?Look how their hands, so were their hearts united,?And what he did she willingly requited.?(Sweet are the kisses, the embracements sweet,?When like desires and affections meet,?For from the earth to heaven is Cupid raised,?Where fancy is in equal balance peised.)?Yet she this rashness suddenly repented?And turned aside, and to herself lamented?As if her name and honour had been wronged?By being possessed of him for whom she longed.?Ay, and she wished, albeit not from her heart?That he would leave her turret and depart.?The mirthful god of amorous pleasure smiled?To see how he this captive nymph beguiled.?For hitherto he did but fan the fire,?And kept it down that it might mount the higher.?Now waxed she jealous lest his love abated,?Fearing her own thoughts made her to be hated.?Therefore unto him hastily she goes?And, like light Salmacis, her body throws?Upon his bosom where with yielding eyes?She offers up herself a sacrifice?To slake his anger if he were displeased.?O, what god would not therewith be appeased??Like Aesop's cock this jewel he enjoyed?And as a brother with his sister toyed?Supposing nothing else was to be done,?Now he her favour and good will had won.?But know you not that creatures wanting sense?By nature have a mutual appetence,?And, wanting organs to advance a step,?Moved by love's force unto each other lep??Much more in subjects having intellect?Some hidden influence breeds like effect.?Albeit Leander rude in love and raw,?Long dallying with Hero, nothing saw?That might delight him more, yet he suspected?Some amorous rites or other were neglected.?Therefore unto his body hers he clung.?She, fearing on the rushes to be flung,?Strived with redoubled strength; the more she strived?The more a gentle pleasing heat revived,?Which taught him all that elder lovers know.?And now the same gan so to scorch and glow?As in plain terms (yet cunningly) he craved it.?Love always makes those eloquent that have it.?She, with a kind of granting, put him by it?And ever, as he thought himself most nigh it,?Like to the tree of Tantalus, she fled?And, seeming lavish, saved her maidenhead.?Ne'er king more sought to keep his diadem,?Than Hero this inestimable gem.?Above our life we love a steadfast friend,?Yet when a token of great worth we send,?We often kiss it, often look thereon,?And stay the messenger that would be gone.?No marvel then, though Hero would not yield?So soon to part from that she dearly held.?Jewels being lost are found again, this never;?'Tis lost but once, and once lost, lost forever.
Now had the morn espied her lover's steeds,?Whereat she starts, puts on her purple weeds,?And red for anger that he stayed so long?All headlong throws herself the clouds among.?And now Leander, fearing to be missed,?Embraced her suddenly, took leave, and kissed.?Long was he taking leave, and loath to go,?And kissed again as lovers use to do.?Sad Hero wrung him by the hand and wept?Saying, "Let your vows and promises be kept."?Then standing at the door she turned about?As loath to see Leander going out.?And now