# Hero and Leander (Greene)/Hero and Leander

HERO and LEANDER.
Queen of the plaintive voice, the Torch resound
Witness of secret Loves, the Lover sing
On midnight billows borne to rapt'rous joys,
Veil'd from Aurora's eye; the realms relate,
By Ocean fever'd, join'd by Love.———I hear
Leander dashing through the surge, I see The glitt'ring Harbinger; benignant Light, Fix'd by Olympus' King thy silver ray Would grace the radiant spheres, auspicious Star, Guardian of nuptial vows, for thine the task To sooth the love-sick heart, ere hostil blasts Howl'd o'er the deep, a whirlwind of despair: Inspire the tale of woe, celestial Muse, The Torch expiring falls, the Lover dies.
Girt with the roaring Ocean Sestos fronts Abydos' neighb'ring plain; Love's Urchin-God Bends his unerring bow, the keenest dart Cull'd from his quiver pierc'd the blooming youth, Sweet Hero pierc'd, She Sestos' fairest grace, Abydos' glory He; their rival forms Smil'd with congenial semblance, brightest beams That e'er adorn'd the Hemisphere of Love.
Trav'ler, whoe'er thou art, whose steps shall roam These regions of distress, mark well the Tow'r, Where Sestian Hero's steady fondness held The flaming Pilot, while Leander's arm Brav'd the wild torrent, and the conscious Night
Drop'd her protective curtain; thence thine eye Guide to Abydos' hallow'd shore, which still Sighs o'er Leander's love, and mourns his fate.
Whence sprang the perilous ardor? why forsake Thy country's dear asylum? how intrance With magic of persuasion Hero's soul?
Hero fair Priestess of celestial race Adorn'd the mystic rites of Beauty's Queen, Unconscious yet of love; th'encircling Deep View'd her embosom'd in her native Tow'r, And hail'd this other Venus; Prudence taught Her bloom of youth, far from the virgin-train, To wooe the solemn mansion; the wild rout Of lavish merriment ne'er charm'd her steps To join the sestive choir; the sex, she grac'd, Ne'er prov'd her matchless excellence, or lowr'd The leering glance of Envy; Fiend, that blasts Each virtue blooming in the female soul. Thee, Cytherea, and thy trait'rous Boy With many a gift she sues, thy altar crowns With many a rich libation, to appease
The quiver fraught with flame, ye cannot spare A conquest so alluring—prayers are vain.
Now wak'd the Morn, and led the festal Day Fam'd through the nations, sacred to the loves Of Paphos' Goddess, sacred to thy shade, Adonis, forth collected legions pour To splendid Sestos; from th'extremest verge Edg'd by circumfluous Neptune, burst the hosts Of clust'ring isles; Hæmonia's cloud-top'd hills, And Cyprus' flow'ry vales their youths resign; Ev'n thou, Cythera, view'st thy widow'd groves, No more the seats of Beauty; on the brow Of spicy Libanus no tunes of mirth Rouse to the genial dance; the Phrygian swain Feels the warm impulse, and Abydos' shore Exhausts her social numbers; not a youth, Lesson'd in Cupid's school, brooks absence; they, Urg'd by report, fly panting to the scenes Of gay festivity; not to the Gods The solemn reverence, other altars court, Their shrine is Beauty, their devotion, Love.
Swift to the fane's recess the Virgin bends Her sedulous footsteps, from her radiant eyes Mildly majestie steals the lambent flame, As gleams the silver Luna's orient ray; Her cheeks, whose velvet slope Hygeia streaks With pure vermilion, twin-born roses blush, Just op'ning to the dawn; her polish'd limbs, Smooth as the vernal meads, profusely shed Fair beauty's softest colors; through its folds Her variegated vest expands the charms Of purple deck'd with ivory; o'er her mien, Perfection's fine assemblage, Graces sport Familiar; say, ye Bards of antient fame, Why limit thus the Sisters? Hero darts From either orb, in every smile of love, Myriads of graces; hail, whom Beauty's Queen, The first of beauties for her priestess chose!
O'er all, in meek pre-eminence, she moves Goddess herself of Love, th'incircling youth Gaze admiration, through each fev'rish pulse The soft infection thrills, her every step Their eyes, their souls pursue; they dare to wish Possession—-'Mid the crowd some dying swain
Breathes the fond transports of his breast———'I oft, 'Oft have survey'd in Lacedæmon's round 'The fairest maids of Sparta, (hers the claim 'Of Beauty's honor'd palm) yet ne'er beheld 'Such glow of charms, such innocence of mien! 'Thee, loveliest of the Graces, Venus mark'd 'To crown her sacred ministry; my eyes 'Tir'd, but insatiate pore——would gracious Heav'n 'Give Hero to my arms, Death's instant dart 'Might strike me to: he dust; ye Pow'rs, reserve, 'Reserve Olympus to yourselves, but grant 'Fair Hero to my wishes; should your will, 'Queen of the Cyprian Isle, my suit deny, 'Be such (if such there is) as Hero mine!'
Thus spake the Stripling's flame; from side to side Love reigns triumphant, though confin'd he longs To burst Concealment's chain; above the rest Leander's mind knows anguish—while thou view'st, Fond Inspiration prompts thee to reveal Thy passion, not despondent, Hero's charms, Resolv'd to win, or die; at ev'ry gaze Redoubled fires devour thee, till intranc'd In Beauty's labyrinth the soul is lost.
Lovely the Virgin-frame, but lovelier far Her native innocence, whose dart is wing'd With force resistless, through the roving eye It strikes into the heart; Leander feels The pow'rs combin'd of virtue, fear, and shame, Wrestling with passion; shame repells the thought By beauty rous'd—Beauty emboldens love.
Though confidence, the foe of cold reserve, Mans his aspiring bosom, his slow step Steals to the Idol-maid, his swimming eye The glance oblique scarce ventures, many a nod With more than speech seduces; Hero sees The Traytor's ambush'd arts, she sees, and smiles Conscious of charms celestial; oft her vest The blushes' sweet suffusion clos'd, but soon Fondly accordant her uplifted look Meets her Leander; transport fills his soul, While the lov'd Hero half-reluctant owns A corresponding flame; the hour he seeks Sacred to Cyprian vows, when Phœbus' rays Verge to the Main declining, and thy star, Meek Hesper, glimmers through the veil of night.
Soon as dim twilight o'er th' horizon sheds The last, faint blush of day, the darkling scene Inspires him; speechless he approach'd the Maid, And gently pressing to his heart the hand By Beauty's pencil shap'd, he heav'd a sigh Deep from his inmost soul—abash'd the Maid Silent her hand withdrew, as bent to chide Th' officious forwardness; Leander's eye Hail'd the fair sign, her wild emotions hail'd, Omens of mutual love, frantic he seiz'd Her robe of virgin white, where art had showr'd The richest tints luxuriant, through the fane Ev'n to the hallow'd shrine he leads the Fair, Though lagging, not reluctant, not displeas'd, Though low'rs the frown ambiguous, and her guide With all of female rage she thus address'd. 'Say, stranger, as thou art, what frenzy prompts 'Thus to allure a virgin? while thou may'st, 'Stranger, retire; no more my vest profane 'With sacrilegious hand, my parents dread, 'For much avails their ire, th' ennobled line 'Is theirs, with rich possessions, Hero rules 'Great Cytherea's priestess; quit thy suit, 'Presumptuous, quit for ever Hero's arms.'
Thus Hero spake, as speaks the maid, who loves. Leander saw, through stern resentment's mask, A fondness ill-conceal'd, in Hero's eyes He saw the yielding heart, for most the maid Deals the dissembling threat, when most she means To prove affection; on her fragrant neck That boasts unrival'd charms, he prints the kiss Innum'rous, and his mind's fierce anguish vents In all the ecstasy of love———'My Fair, 'Not second ev'n to Venus, thine the grace 'Minerva's form might envy, thine the birth 'Above this nether sphere, the thund'ring Jove 'Boasts not a lovelier offspring; bless'd the Sire, 'Bless'd be the Mother, who those spotless charms 'Gave to the light, for ever bless'd the womb 'That nurs'd thee; hear, oh! hear a Lover's vows, 'Let not despair be mine, but Pity's smile 'Beam comfort on my wishes; say shall love 'Be stranger to thy heart, the Priestess thou 'Of Cytherea's altar? At the shrine 'Light, light the nuptial torch, the Cyprian fane 'Claims not a Virgin vot'ry, Queen of Love, 'Not such engage thee; would my Hero know 'Her Venus' sestal rites, those orgies most
'Are grac'd by Hymen's care, if yet thou love 'The Goddess, thou rever'st, revere the laws, 'Which lure th' enchanted soul to rapture's feast. 'In me behold thy captive; could I boast 'The Husband's happier name! my Hero's charms 'Have link'd a chain indissoluble, such 'As bound the fam'd Alcides, whom the God, 'That grasps the golden wand, an hireling led 'To proud Occhalia's Maid; not Hermes guides 'My soul to Hero's arms, the Queen of Love 'Inspires my suit; thou know'st th' Arcadian tale, 'Know'st Atalanta's fate, the maid, who spurn'd 'Melanion's flame, by angry Venus doom'd 'Humbly to wooe with unavailing sighs 'The youth, she hated; learn, my Hero, learn 'Thy Cytherea's will, nor tempt her frown.'
He ended, softly glides the subtle flame Through Hero's bosom, every note expands The seeds of fond affection, bent to earth Her looks declare her love; the cheek, which boasts More than the rose's bloom, displays the blush Of virgin-modesty, which oft her robe Wraps in its silken fold; her anxious step
Plays with subsilient motion, ev'ry sigh Avows her passion, Silence more than speaks An heart just yielding to the nuptial bliss.
Oh! Love, thou honey'd anguish, Hero's soul Feels thy sharp point enamor'd, thrilling fires Throb in each vein tumultuous, to the ground Her eye declining bows; Leander hangs Gazing her charms intranc'd, he cannot quit The fascinating object; the warm blush Melts on her cheek, as dew-drops on the rose, While bursts the silver note from Hero's tongue. 'Say, lovely Youth, what means the magic voice, 'Whose sound would soften adamant? What Pow'r 'Taught the commanding accent? Stranger, speak, 'Whence first thy course to Sestos? but in vain 'Thy eloquence of love; seducing Youth, 'Would'st thou unknown aspire to Hero's arms, 'To wishes, thou can'st never taste? The torch 'Of Hymen, if thy Hero yield her hand, 'Beams with no parent's favor; should thy stay 'Claim their protective smile, thou vainly tempt'st 'The secret union, Slander's busy tongue 'Will blaze the scene of Love to noon-tide air.
'Yet speak thy name, thy country, well thou know'st, 'Know'st from my traytor tongue thy Hero's race; 'Fast by the roaring surge, yon rev'rend tow'r, 'Whose summit mates the sky, my gloomy home, 'For such my Parents' will; the neighb'ring main, 'And fair Abydos' shore to Hero's eye 'Limit the scanty prospect; far from me 'The friend coeval, or th' associate choir 'Of youths, and maids enchanted; day or night 'No found of melody, but winds and waves 'Jar, one eternal discord.' Hero ends, Nor checks the rising blush, her conscious vest Receives once more within its silken veil The streak of virgin-innocence, which blames The love, it most betrays; Leander's soul, Midst all a lover's pangs, burns unappall'd To brave the mighty conflict; subtle Pow'r, Whose stroke deals sharpest poison, thine the skill To pour the balm medicinal, thy wiles Heal, as they wound; thy tutelary aid Inspires Leander's thought, the quick resolve Wakes in his lab'ring breast.—'Hero, for Thee, 'For Thee, thou fair Perfection, my brave arm 'Shall stem the madden'd deep; from pole to pole 'Though flames the livid lightning, and despair
'Chills the pale mariner, my Hero's charms 'Shall smooth the billows, and each liquid hill 'Shall rise an altar to the lover's bliss. 'Yes! for my Hero, mid the shades of night 'I pass the troubled Hellespont, and leave 'For happier Sestos my Abydos' shore! 'Yet, fair Conductress, from the turret's brow 'Illum'd by earliest dawn, will Hero's hand 'Point the bright torch, the cynosure to steer 'The bark, thy Bridegroom to his port of Love? 'Cheer'd by that genial Star, of other lights 'I fail regardless, let thy baleful orb, 'Orion, and Boötes' half-clos'd eye 'Weep o'er the drear horizon; let the North 'Display that planetary Car, whose head 'Rests not on Ocean's pillow; Lamps of Heav'n, 'Farewell!—the Torch, my guide to Hero's arms.
'Yet, loveliest of thy sex, be thine the care 'To watch the sacred fire, lest the rude breath 'Of winds ungen'rous rob me of its light, 'Rob Hero of her Lover; thine to rule, 'Guide of my course, and guardian of my life: 'Know 'tis Leander sues, smile o'er his vows, 'Thou Idol of my soul, and make me thine!'
Thus mutual faith the hallow'd union plan'd, And seal'd th' ecstatic myst'ries; Hero's task Constant the flaming minister to tend, Bright pledge of rites nocturnal, his the lot To ride the wave's broad bosom; each departs Reluctant, each intent on nuptial scenes Keeps separation's vigils, to the Tow'r Slow moves her ling'ring step, Leander seeks Abydos' native realm; amid the gloom Of Night's incumbent shade left the wide maze Of waters lure him devious, oft his eye Fondling salutes the Tow'r; approaching joys Their souls anticipate, they wish the hour, The darkling hour, which heals the lover's pain.
At length the Night in robe of fable hue O'ershadows Nature, slumbers soft she brings To all but Thee, Leander; thy lone step Roams the wide shore, list'ning the savage din Of hoarse resounding Ocean; all intent Ev'n now thou gazest on the Torch, thy guide To Hymeneal bliss, ev'n now thou hail'st This Sun of Hope, too soon to set in tears
Fair Hero mark'd the closing eye of Day, Forth springs the ready flame; Leander's soul Greets the fond omen, Love's inspiring God Sheds a congenial fire; aghast he hears The roar of madden'd billows, every vein Chills with pale horror, but at once arous'd He thus his manly breast confirms: 'Oh! Love 'More cruel than the Main, whose kindred waves 'Ne'er can thy fires control, secret they glow 'Unquenchable; awake, my gen'rous heart, 'Nor dread the waste of waters, while I swim 'Borne by affection to the maid I love 'Be present, all-collected, danger's frown 'Nought heeding; well thou know'st, that Beauty's Queen 'Claims Ocean for her fire, Ocean she rules, 'And rules my bosom's flame.' No more he adds, But from his comely limbs the vestment loos'd, And folds it o'er his head; the surge receives His welcome burden, while the faithful Torch Points the sure track of bliss; himself presides The vessel, pilot, and inspiring gale.
High from the blazing tow'r fair Hero wooes The daring wanderer, from each rising breeze
Her robe assiduous shields the guiding flame, Till the fond bark safe in the harbor rests From Love's much-labor'd voyage; to the Tow'r She leads him fainting from his course, and steals Full many a wish'd embrace; though reeking still With Ocean's foam, she leads him to the joys Of Hymen's hallow'd scene; with fragrant oil, Sweet as the vernal rose, his limbs she sooths, And wipes the tear Neptunian; on the couch Gently she seats, and clasps him to her breast, The voice of Love soft-breathing from her soul.
'Great were thy labors, Bridegroom! thou alone 'Would'st stem th'opposing torrent; great thy toils! 'Enough the briny wave, enough the roar 'Of angry Ocean! my Leander, lull, 'Lull ev'ry care, and bless thy Hero's arms.'
She ends, the note of melody awakes The weary'd Lover's trance; her virgin zone He loos'd impatient, and in mutual bliss They consecrate the rites of Venus' shrine.
Hail, nuptial couch! rest of the social choir, Of strains harmonious rest!_no bard attunes The gratulating lyre, no genial lamp Sheds Hymeneal lustre; kindred Mirth Wakes not the dance enraptur'd, not a voice Tunes Iö Pæans, Mother, Father, Friend, All absent! Silence, clad in Night's dun robe, Sits with her sifter Darkness, favor'd guests, Where others are unwish'd, they watch the bed, Themselves alone prepar'd; protective mutes, Which Hymen's melancholy drama grace.
In vain, Aurora, would thy earliest ray Surprize the Lovers' joys, Leander wakes, Long ere thy orient blush with fainter smile Gleams o'er th' horizon; for Abydos' shore Not unreluctant quits his Hero's arms, Insatiate still, still breathing wild desire.
Nor less thy care, Queen of the flowing Robe, Veils from a Parent's eye the traitrous flame, By day the Virgin, and by night the Bride. Oh Sun, to others dear, a foe to vows, Which lovers wish conceal'd, thy western car Wing to the Main, and send the welcome shades!
Thus the fond pair with mutual ardor steal Raptures, that never cloy; but short thy reign, Indulgent Queen of Beauty! short the hour, Which lights Leander o'er the conscious deep. Stern Winter, cloth'd with frost, in tresses hoar Steps palsy'd, through the main the busy storms Urge the vex'd whirlpools, to the centre driv'n They shake the throne of Neptune; pale with fear The mariner prophetic to the strand Worne by the surge has drag'd his willing bark, And flies the faithless deep; far other cares O'errule Leander's soul, Love boldly spurns Discretion's softer voice, the Tow'r displays Its evening-star accustom'd, light to joys, The lover ne'er can quit; in vain the wave Dashing the face of Heav'n forbids the youth To trust its madden'd horrors; cruel Torch, Thy beam malignant lights him to his fate.
Yet could not Hero, fear'd by Winter's frown, Waste a few solitary, tedious nights? Oh! call the Torch, for one short period call From its aërial office! Fate severe, Severer Love forbid; the flame, which erst Led to the shrine of rapture, points to death.
'Twas Night, the sullen winds, winds, such as rage Tyrants of wintry skies, from pole to pole League in discordant union, and the Deep Rouse to fierce conflict; inauspicious hour, Leander nought regards thee, all his soul Pants for the well-known joys, once more the Main Bears its devoted burden; wave on wave Dashes, his mountains angry Neptune heaves Ev'n to the foot of Jove, the tempests shake Creation's wide domain; the surly East Wars with the Western blast, the ruder North Blows havock on the South, the mingled roar Of thunder bellows thro' the mad profound.
Whelm'd in the gulph, and toss'd from surge to surge,
What pangs were thine, Leander! Many a prayer Wooes Cytherea's smile, and many a vow Implores the Lord of Ocean; Thee he calls, Boreas, unmindful of the Nymph belov'd, Unmindful of Leander; pray'rs are vain, Deaf ev'ry Pow'r, for Love can never boast A conquest o'er the Fates; unhappy Youth, Sport of contending elements, whose force Compelling veers thee diverse, scarce thy feet Faint, and more faint move heavily, thy arm
Drops in lethargic languor, ev'ry surge Swells thy embitter'd draught; the faithful Torch Expires amid the tempest, thy fond eye Just views the falling light, and sinks in death.
Full o'er the Deep impatient Hero por'd, Pond'ring the long delay; peace from her thoughts, And soft repose are banish'd, cares on cares Distract her lab'ring bosom; soon as Dawn Wakes from his throne of light, around she throws The gaze of anxious hope, haply to view Her Lover, riding o'er the Main, to view Leander wand'ring wayward from his course, Rest of his polar Star; her wilder'd look Roves to the shore beneath, aghast she shrieks, Her soul's dear part'ner breathless on the strand, Dash'd on the savage rocks; frantic she rends Her various vestment, strengthen'd by Despair Springs from the Tow'r precipitate, and dies On lov'd Leander's bosom—union sweet! Which Life too transient bless'd, nor Death divides.
The END.
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