Smyrna times., 1879-08-06
The Story Of Hero and Leander.
BY DREoS.

BY DREos.
On opposite bands of the Hellespont,
(now called the Dardenelles) and at its
narrowest part, stood the cities of Abydos
in Asia, and Lestos in Europe. Hand
soonest of all the youth in Abydos was one
Leander, whose excellence in manners and
bravery made him the pride of his native
city. Equal in beauty, and exceeding all
her sex in womanly virtues was the fair
Hero of Lestos, and each was the radiant
star of either Shore" A priestess of Venus
she dwelt on a high tower, overlooking the
water where, in her separation from the
&" follies of the female crew." she thought
herself blessed, in chaste reflection, and the
preserving of her beauty from the unjust
stings of jealous rivalry, which her intimate
association with the others of her sex was
sure to engender, conscious, as the poet ex
presses, that where superior beauty
shines confessed, it kindles envy in each
female breast" No thought of love for
man had ever crossed her breast, and
taught to dread the flaming arrows from
Cupid's unerring bow, she thought to for
ever escape the 'witchery of his act. In
this her prayers proved fruitless. Love
gains an easy conquest DER the fair" as will
be seen.
1t was at the time of the annual festival,
which Historians so piously reserved, TAT
Venus fame to pay the rite divine, and offer
incense at Adonis' shrine" From all the
islands adjoining from fowery Cypress and
the Phyrgian plains the unnumbered null
titudes come, some skilled in music, others
to lead the dance. Of course Abydos across
the strait, was not behind her neighbors in
numbers, but sent to the feast her share oi
mirthful youths, both gay and fair, oul
author remarking quite truly that there
are those to be found every where who
joyfully receive news of ffolic or feast, and
attend with delight, not so much to pay
homage to the author of the occasion, (if al
ally as to indulge their grosser appetites.
AS the fair priestess passed through tht
temple clad in gorgeous robes well showed
off her matchless form, all eyes were ben
upon her in warmest admiration. So full
of grace each movement, so radiant eact
smile, so majestic her mein, so fresh thu
bloom of youth, that in her artless ways sh'
shone supreme, and even rivalled the god
dess of love herself Transported with he
charms all strive to win her favors. Amoni
those most deeply smitten was the youtl
Leander, who, though witnessing the fruit
less wooings of those about him, was no
dismayed, but by all the wiles and arts a
his command, essayed to win her heart
Concious of the intentions of the boil
Abydian, Hero turns coquette, but alas
is caught in the meshes of her own net
and rarely strives to hide the tell-tale ev
dence of the passion that burns in he
bosom,-her eyes-the mirrors of the GOV
reveals to Leander that her heart is hi
| En0NrronaA ha hon
though Hero seems displeased, KNOWN
!; full well that chidings are but the harbir
gers of love. The burning words of Leande
move her heart, but loathe to yield S
readily she asks him his name and country
and if he does not know she cannot wed
stranger. And being pledged to her sei
girt tower, without attendants or companio
. nymphs, that the love of even so worthy
being as himself, were crime, and woul
surely be their mutual ruin, if he shoul
q. be discovered to her family.
Equal to the emergency Leander revea
; his name, and boasts of his prowess an
; love. Assuring her las so many have sine
T, assured their brides) that he would {
/, through fire and water to serve her,
! promises to swim the Hellespont,
Q night, if she will but hold her torch aloi
and brightly burning, from her tower
direct his way. Thus he hoped to escal
for time at least, the certain anger of b
n kin, yet maintain, though under the mo
6 trying circumstances, close companionsh
y with his Lively bride. For a time thin
1t went on most happily, she appreciating b
l. visits through such trials, to q degree tn
words refuse to define, and striving at eat
s. meeting to excel in loveliness and goodne
that her lover should feel well repaid, al
in turn be equally devoted. But mi
always prize highest the gem that is rare
and so did Leander prize Hero the MOI
because of the. barriers that lay betwe
them. All that was necessary was
y Hero to display the beacon light, and Lea
a. der, be it through storm or calm, swan
le her side Some say the distance was t.
N miIes,-othsrs (Pliny and Herodotus) sew
" stadia or furlongs, and LeBrun but hall
mile.
IN But at last Winter came, Winter Il
Fl with its relentless fury, deforms the Ia
rs with frosts and hail, and ploughs the ST
with storms; Winter that rouses from tn
10 beds the cavers of the deep, all the scatter
slumbering elements, and with the help
eu old Eolus kurls them DER the watery
he panse. Yet Leander braves the food s
e. cessfully, until one night storm more
~ we're than usual, settles upon sea anu Ia
er and fills with awful dread all that beh
les it. Unheedful of the risks, Hero yea
no for her Leander, and unable TO abide
Is, passionate longings that fill her bre
sEo raises high her torch, the signal for
IN presence From his watch across the an
waters, Leander spies the light, no more
gentle harbinger of love, but, alas desti
sAy to be that night the beacon light of de
az, True to his trust he dares the waves, WI
nu the storm is at its height. The waves
'ut swollen into mountains, while from ev
part of the sky, in clustering, weird con
ton, are dashed the elements. oppreI
ties Leander entreats the " sea sprung Godd
zen to relieve him, imploring all the while
as compassion of Neptune and BoreRs,
Love must yield when Fate deer
Tossed from billow to hillow, he at last
ST. cumbs and is horne on the breast Of
Re. flood starving corpse.
Erom the tower Hero impatiently av
Leander's coming, now uttering ge
arls chidings for his long delay, now givinl
TO perplexing anguish, watching with W