Hero and Leander (Greene)/Hero and Leander
HERO and LEANDER.[1]
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.
- ↑ Geographical doubts have arisen, relatively to the situation of Sestos and Abydos. Critical doubts have likewise arisen, with respect to the probability of Leander's 'watry excursion'—The latter must be determined by the distance. However practicable the Knight, or rather Night Errantry, I am contented to admire the Fable, as a sacrifice to the prevalence of Love, which is well known to remove (at least to attempt it) obstacles of the most forbiding aspect. Those, who wish to give the same air of ease to the present, which has been more recently experienced to attend Love-expeditions, may reduce at will the limits of the Hellespont to those of the Tweed;
Magno de flumine mallem,
Quàm ex hoc fonticulo tantundem sumere.———Hor. Sat. I. B. i.The piece itself, like its subject, exhibits the art of swimming, no less than that of sinking—in Poetry.