THE DIVINE POEM OF MVSAEVS.

First of all BOOKES.

TRANSLATED According to the Ori­ginall,

By GEO: CHAPMAN▪

LONDON, ¶Printed by Isaac Iaggard. 1616.

To the Most gene­rally ingenious, and our on­ly Learned Architect, my exceeding good Friend INYGO IONES, Esquire; Surueigher of His Maiesties Workes.

ANcient Poesie, and ancient Architecture, requiring to their excellēce a like creating and propor­tionable Rapture, and be­ing [Page] alike ouer-topt by the monstrous Babels of our Moderne Barbarisme; Their vniust obscurity, let­ting no glance of their tru­eth and dignity appear, but to passing few: To passing few is their lest apparance to be presented. Your selfe then being a Chiefe of that [Page] few, by whom Both are ap­prehended; & their beames worthily measur'd and va­lew'd. This little Light of the one, I could not but ob­iect, and publish to your choise apprehension; especi­ally for your most ingenuous Loue to all Workes, in which the ancient Greeke Soules [Page] haue appear'd to you. No lesse esteeming this, woorth the presenting to any Grea­test, for the smalnes of the wo [...]ke; then the Authour himselfe hath beene helde therfore of the lesse estima­tion: h [...]uing obtain'd as much preseruation and ho­nor, as the greatest of O­thers: [Page] the Smalnesse bee­ing supplyed with so great­ly-exc [...]llent Inuention and Elocution. Nor lacks euen the most youngly-enamor'd affection it co [...]taines, a Temper graue enough, to become, both the Sight and Acceptance of the Grauest. And therefore, howsoeuer [Page] the mistaking worlde takes it (whose left hand euer re­ceyu'd what I gaue with my Right.) If you freely and no­bly [...]ntertaine it, I obtaine my End: your Iudicious Loues continuance, being my onely Obiect: To which [Page] I at all partes commend.

Your Ancient poore Friend George Chapman.

To the Commune Reader.

WHen you see Le­ander and Hero, the Subiects of this Pam­phlet; [Page] I perswade my self, your preiudice will en­crease to the contempt of it; eyther headlong pre­supposing it, all one; or at no part matcheable, with that partly excellent Po­em, [Page] of Maister Marloes. For your all one; the VVorkes are in nothing alike; a different Chara­cter being held through, both the Stile, Matter, & inuention. For the match [Page] of it; let but your eyes be Matches, and it will in many parts ouermatch it. In the Originall, it being by all the most Learned, the incomparable Loue-Poem of the world. And [Page] I would be somthing sor­ry, you could iustly taxe me, with dooing it any wrong in our English; though perhappes it will not so amble vnder your seasures and censures, as [Page] the before publish't.

Let the great Com­prehenders, and vnable Vtterers of the Greeke elocution in other Lan­guage; drop vnder theyr vnlodings, how humbly [Page] soeuer they please; and the rather disclaime their owne strength, that my weaknesse may seeme the more presumptnous: It can impose no scruple the more burthen on my [Page] shoulders, that I wil feele; vnlesse Reason chance to ioyne Arbiter with Will, and appeare to mee: To whome I am euer pro­strately subiect. And if enuious Misconstruction [Page] could once leaue tyran­nizing ouer my infortu­nate Innocence; Both the Charity it argu'de, would render them that vse it, the more Christi­an; and mee industrious, [Page] to hale out of them the discharge of their owne Duties.

OF MVSAEVS▪
Out of the worthy D. Gagers Coll [...]ctions.

MVsae [...]s was a renown'd Greeke Poet, borne at Athens, the Sonne of Eumol­pus. [Page] Hee liu'd in the time of Orpheus, and is saide to bee one of them that vvent the Famous voy [...]ge to Colchos for the Golden Fleece. He wrote of the Gods Genealogie before any other, and inven­ted the Sphere. Whose opinion [Page] was, that all things were made of one matter, and resolued in­to one againe. Of whose works, onely this one Poem of Hero and Leander, is extant; of himselfe in his sixte Booke of Aene. Virgil, makes memo­rable mention, where in Elisi­um [Page] hee makes Sybilla speake this of him.

Musaeum ante Omnes
(medium nam plurima Tu [...]ba
Hunc habet) at (que) humeris
extantem suspicit altis.

Hee was borne in Falerum, a [Page] Towne in the middle of Tus­cia, or the famous Countrey of Tuscany in Italy, cal'd also Hetruria.

Of Abydus and Sestus.

ABydus and Sestus, were two ancient Towns: One, [Page] in Europe, another in Asia; East and West, opposite: On both the shores of the Helle­spont. Their names are extāt in Maps to this day. But in the [...]r places, are two Castles buile, which the Turkes call Bogazossar, that is, Castles scituate by the Sea side. Sea­men [Page] nowe call the place where Sestus stood, Malido. It was likewise cal'd Possidonium. But Abydus is called Au [...]o. They are both renowned in all Writers, for nothing so much as the Loue of Leander and Hero.

Of the Hellespont.

HEllespont is the straits of the two Seas, Pro­pontis and Egeum runn [...]ng betwixt Abydus and Sestus. Ouer which, Xerxes builte a Bridge, and ioyn'd these two Townes together, conueighing ouer his Army of seauen hun­dred thousand men. It is now [Page] cal'd by some, The Streights of G [...]llipolis. But by French­men, Flemings, and others, The Arme of Saint George. It had [...] name of Hellespōt, because Helle the Daughter of Athamas K. of Thebes, was drown'd in it. And ther­fore of one it is called, The [Page] Virgin-killing-Sea. Of ano­ther, The Virgin-Sea. It is but seauen Italian Furlongs broade, which is one of our Miles, lacking a furlong.

MVSAEVS OF HERO & LEANDER.

Goddesse relate,
the witnesse-bearing-light
Of Loues, that would not beare
a humane sight.
The Sea-man
that transported Marriages
Shipt in the Night;
his bosome plowing th'seas:
[Page] The Loue ioyes
that in gloomy cloud: did flye
The cleere beames
of th'immortall mornings eye.
Abydus and faire Sestus,
where I heare
The Night-hid Nuptials
of young Hero were.
Leanders swimming to h [...]r▪
and a Light:
A Light, that was
administresse of sight
[Page] To cloudy Venus;
and did serue [...]'addresse
Night-wedding Heroes
Nuptiall (1) Offices.
A Light that tooke
the very forme of Loue:
Which had bene Iustice
in aethereall Ioue,
When the Nocturnal
duty had bene done,
T'aduance amongst the
Consort of the Sunne;
[Page] And call the Starre,
that Nuptiall Loues di [...] guide,
And to the Bridegroome ( [...]) gaue,
and grac't the B [...]ide
Because it was
(3) Companion to the Death
Of Loues, whose kinde cares
cost their dearest breath:
And that (4) Fame- [...]reight [...]d ship
from Shipwracke kept,
Tha [...] such [...]weet Nuptials broght,
th [...]y neuer slept.
[Page] Till Aire was with
a Bitter floud inflate,
That bore their firme Loues
as infixte a hate.
But ( Goddesse) forth;
and Both, one ys [...]ue sing:
The Light extinct,
Leander perishing.
¶Two townes there were,
that with one Sea were wald;
Built neere, and Opposi [...]e:
this, Sestus cald;
[Page] Abydus that:
Then LOV [...] his Bow bent hy,
And at bo [...]h Citties,
let one Arrow fly.
That Two (a Virgin
and a Youth) Infl [...]m'd:
The Youth, was
sweetly grac' [...] Leander nam'd▪
The Virgin, Hero▪
S [...]stus, she renownes,
Abydus [...]e, in Birth:
of both which Townes
[Page] Both were the Beuty-circled
starres; And Both,
Grac't with like lookes,
as with one Loue and Troth.
¶If that way lye thy course,
seeke for my sake,
A Tower, that Se [...]ian Hero
once d [...]d make
Her Watch-Tower:
and a Torch stood holding there,
By which, Leander
his Sea-course did stere.
[Page] Seeke likewise,
of Abydus ancient Towres,
The Roaring Sea
lamenting to these houres
Leanders Loue, and Death.
But saie; howe came
Hee (at Abydus borne)
to feele the flame
Of Heroes Loue at Sestus?
and to binde
In Chaines of equall fire,
bright Heroes minde?
[Page] ¶The Gracef [...]ll Hero,
borne of gentle blood▪
Was Venus Priest;
and since she vnderstood
No Nuptiall Language:
from her Parents, she
Dwelt in a Towre,
that ouer-lookt the Sea.
For shamefastnesse and chastity,
she raign'd
Another Goddesse▪
Nor was euer traind
[Page] In Womens companies;
Nor learn'd to t [...]ed
A gracefull Dance,
to which such yeares are bred.
The enu [...]ous spights of Women
she did fly,
(Women for Beauty
their owne sex enuy)
All her Deuotion
was to Venus done,
And to his heauenly Mother,
her great Sonne
[Page] Would reconcile,
with Sacrifices euer;
And euer trembled
at his flaming Quiuer.
Yet scap't not so
his fiery shafts, her Brest▪
For now, the popular
Venerean Feast,
Which to Adoni [...],
and great Cyprias State,
The Sestians yearely
vs'de to celebrate,
[Page] Was Come:
and to that holy day came all,
That in the bordering Isles,
the Sea did wall.
To it in Flockes they flew;
from Cyprus these,
Enuiron'd with the rough
Carpathian Seas:
These from Haemonia;
nor remain'd a Man
Of all the Townes,
in [...]h'Isles Cytherean:
[Page] Not one was left,
that vs'de to dance vpon
The [...]
of [...]dorifferous Libanon:
Not one of Phrygia,
not one of All
The Neigh [...]or [...],
seated neere the Festiuall:
Nor one
of opposite Abydus Shore▪
Non [...] of all these▪
that Virgins fauours wore
[Page] Were absent:
All such, fill the flowing way,
When Fame proclaimes
a solemne holy da [...].
Not bent so much
to offer holy Flames,
As to the Beauties
of assembled Dames.
¶The Virgin Hero
enter'd th'oly place,
And gracefull beames
cast round about her face,
[Page] Like to the bright Orbe
of the rising Moone.
The Top-spheres of her
snowy cheekes pus on
A glowing rednesse,
like the two hu'de Rose,
Her odorous Bud
begi [...]ning to disclose.
You would haue saide,
in all her Li [...]eaments
A Medd [...] full of Ro [...]es
she presents
[Page] All ouer her she blush't;
which (putting on
Her white Robe,
(reaching to her Ankles) shone,
(While she in passi [...]g,
did he [...] feete dispose)
As she had wholly bene
a moouing Rose.
Graces, in Numbers,
from her parts did flow:
The Ancients therefore
( [...]ince they did not know
[Page] Heroes vnb [...]unde [...] Beauties)
fal [...]ely fa [...]n'd
Onely [...]hree Graces:
for when Hero strain'd
Into a smile,
her Priestly Modestie,
A hundred Graces, grew,
from either [...]ye.
A fit o [...]e sure,
the Cyprian Godd [...]sse found
To be her Ministresse;
And so highly crown'd
[Page] With worth, her Grace was,
past all other Dames,
That, of a Priest
made to the Queen [...] of Flames
A New Queene of them,
She in all eyes shin'de:
And did so vndermine
each tender minde
Of all the yong-men:
that the [...]e was not One
But wish't faire Hero wer his wife,
or None.
[Page] Nor could she stirre
about the wel-built Phane,
This way, or that;
but euery way shee wan
A following minde in all Men:
which their [...]yes
Lighted with all
their inmost Faculties
Cleerely confirm'd:
And One (admiring) said;
All Spar [...]a I haue trauail'd,
and survai'd
[Page] The Citty Lacedemon;
where we heare
All Beauties Labors,
and contentions were:
A woman yet,
so wise, and delicate
I neuer saw▪
It may be, Venus gate
One of the yonger Graces,
to supply
The place of Priest hood
to her Deity.
[Page] Euen tyr'de I am with sight,
yet doth not finde
A [...]a [...]isfac [...]ion,
by my si [...]ht; my Minde.
O could I once
ascend sweete Heroes bed,
Let me be straight
found in her bosome dead:
I would not wish
to be in heauen a God,
Were Hero heere my wi [...]e:
But, if forbod
[Page] To lay proph [...]ne hands
on thy holye Priest,
O Venus,
with another such assist
My Nuptial Longings.
Thus pray'd all that spake,
The rest their wounds hid,
and in Frenzies b [...]ake
Her Beauties Fire,
being so supprest, so rag'd.
But thou, Leander,
more then all engag'd,
[Page] Wouldst not when thou hadst
view'd th'amasing Maide
Waste with clo [...]e stings,
and seeke no open aide;
But, with the [...]aming Arrowes
of her eyes
Wounded vnwares,
thou wouldst in sacrifice
Vent th'inflammation
thy bu [...]nt blood did proue,
Or Li [...]e with sacred
Medicine of her Loue.
[Page] ¶Bu [...] now the Loue-brand
in his eie-beam [...]s bu [...]n'd,
And with th'vnconquer'd fire,
his heart was turn'd
Into a Coale:
together wrought the Flame;
The vertuous beauty
of a spotle [...]e Dame,
Sharper to Men is,
then the swiftest Shaft.
H [...]s Eye [...]he way
by which his Heart is caught:
[Page] And from the stroke
his eye sustaines, the wounde
Open's within,
and doth his Intrailes sounde.
Amaze then [...]ooke him,
Impudence, and Shame
Made Earthquakes in him,
with their Frost and Flame:
His Heart betwixt them tost,
till Reuerence
Tooke all these Prisoners in him:
and from thence
[Page] H [...]r mat [...]less bea [...]ty,
with [...]
[...] b [...]nds:
[...] Aguish L [...]ue, that len [...]
Sh [...]me, and Obseruance,
Licenc'st their remoue;
And wi [...]ely liking
Im [...]udence in Loue:
S [...]l [...]nt he went,
an [...] stood against the Maide,
And in side glances
[...]aintly he conuaide
[Page] His craf [...]y eyes about her;
with dumbe showes
Tempting her minde to Error.
And now growes
She to conceiue his subtle [...]
and ioy'd
Since he was gracefull.
Then herselfe imploy'd
Her womanish cunning,
turning from him qui [...]e
Her Louely Count'nance;
giuing yet some Light
[Page] Euen by her darke signes,
of her kindling fire;
With vp and down-lookes,
whe [...]ting his desire.
He ioy'd at heart
to see Loues sence in her,
And no contempt
of what he did prefer.
And while he wish't vnseene
to vrge the rest,
The day shrunke downe
her beames to lowest West
[Page] And East: The Euen-starre
tooke vantage of her shade;
Then boldly he,
his kinde ap [...]roches made:
And as he saw
the Russet clouds encrease,
He strain'd her Ro [...]e hand,
and held his peace:
But sigh'd,
as Silence had his bosom broke;
When She, as silent.
put on Angers cloake▪
[Page] And drew her hand backe.
He descerning well
Her would, and would not:
to her boldlier fell:
And her elaborate Robe,
with much cost wrought,
About her waste e [...]bracing:
On he brought
His Loue to [...]h'in-parts
of the reuerend Ph [...]ne:
She, (as her Loue-sparkes
more and more did wane)
[Page] Went slowly on,
and with a womans words
Threatning Leander,
thus his boldnesse bords.
¶Why Stranger, Are you mad?
[...]ll-fated Man,
Why hale you thus,
a Virgin Sestian?
Keepe on your way:
Let go, Fea [...]e to offend
The Noblesse of my birth-rights,
[...]ither Friend;
[Page] It ill become's you
to solicite thus
The Priest of Venus;
Hopelesse, dangerous
The bar'd vp-way
is to a Virgins bed.
Thus, for the Maiden forme,
she menaced.
But he well knew.
that when these Female mind [...]s
Breake out in fury,
they are certaine signes
[Page] Of their perswasions.
Womens threats once showne,
Shewes in it, onely,
all you wish your Owne:
And therefore
of the rubi-coloured Maide,
The odorous Necke
he with a kisse assaid.
And stricken with the sting
of Loue, he pra [...]'d.
Deare Venus,
next to Venus you must go;
[Page] And next Minerua;
[...]race Minerua to
Your like, with [...]arthly Dames
no light can show:
To Io [...]es great Dau [...]hters,
[...] must liken you.
Blest was thy great Begetter;
blest was she
Whose wombe did beare thee▪
But m [...]st blessedly
The Wombe it selfe far'd,
that thy throwes did proue.
[Page] O heare my prayer:
pitty the Neede of Loue.
As Priest of Venus,
practise Venus Rites.
Come, and instruct me
in her Beds del [...]ghts.
It fits not you, a Virgin,
to vow aides
To Venus seruice;
Venus Loues no Maides.
If Venus institutions
you prefer,
[Page] A [...]d faithfull Ceremonies
vow to her,
Nupt [...]als, and Beds they be.
If her Loue bindes,
Loue loues swe [...]t Lawes,
that sof [...]en humane mindes.
Make me your seruant:
Husband, if you pleas'd;
Whom Cupid with his
burning shafts hath [...]eis'd,
And [...]un [...]ed to you;
As swift Hermes [...]raue
[Page] With his Gold Rod,
IOVES bold sonne to be slaue
To Lydia's soueraigne virgin;
But for me▪
Venus insulting,
forc't my feete to thee.
I was not guided
by wise Mercury.
Virgin, you know,
When Atalanta fled
Out of Arcadia,
kinde Melanions bed,
[Page] (Affecting Virgine life;
your Angry Queene,
Whom first she vs'd
with a malignant spleene)
At last possest him
of her compleat heart.
And you (deere Loue)
because I would auer [...]
Your Goddesse anger;
I would faine perswade.
With these Loue-luring words,
conform'd he made
[Page] The Maid Recusant
to his bloods desire;
And set her soft minde,
on an erring fire.
Dumbe s [...]e was strooke:
and downe to earth she threw
Her Rosie eyes:
hid in Vermillion hew,
Made red with shame.
Oft with her foote she rac't
Earths vpper part;
And oft (as quite vngrac't)
[Page] About her shoulders
gathered vp her weede.
All these fore [...]tokens are
[...]hat Men shall speede.
Of a perswaded Virgin
to her Bed,
Promise is most giu [...]n,
when the least is said.
And now she tooke in,
Loues sweet bitter sti [...]g▪
Burn'd in a fire,
that cool'd her [...]urfetting▪
[Page] Her Beauties likewise,
strooke her Friend amaz'd:
For while her eyes
fix't on the Pauement gaz'd,
Loue, on Leanders lookes,
shew'd Fury seas'd.
Neuer enough
hi [...] greedy eyes were pleas'd
To view the faire glosse
of her tender Necke.
At last this sweet voice past,
and out did brea [...]e
[Page] A ruddy moisture
from her bashfull eyes;
Stranger, perhaps
thy words might exercise
Motion in F [...]ints,
as well as my soft brest.
Who taught thee words▪
that erre from East to West
In their wilde libe [...]ty?
O woe is me:
To this my Nati [...]e soile,
who guided thee?
[Page] All thou hast saide is vaine;
for how canst thou
(Not to be trusted:
One, I do not know)
Hope to excite in me,
a mixed Loue?
T'is cleere, that Law
by no meanes will approue
Nuptials with vs;
for thou canst neuer gaine
My Paren [...] [...]races.
If thou [...] remaine
[Page] Close on my shore,
as outcast from thine owne;
Venus will be
in darkest corners knowne
Mans tongue is friend to scandall;
loose acts done
In surest secret:
in the open Sunne
And euery Market place,
will burne thine cares.
But say, what name [...]ustainst thou?
What soile bea [...]s
[Page] Name of thy Countrey?
M [...]ne, I cannot hide;
My farre spred name, is Hero:
I abide
Hous'd in an all-seene-Towre▪
whose tops touch heauen,
Built on a steepe shore,
that to Sea is driuen
Before the City Sestus.
One sole Maide
Attending;
And this irkesome life is laide [...]
[Page] By my austere Friends wils,
on one so yong;
No like-year'd Virgins nere;
No youthfull throng
To meete in some delights,
Dances, or so:
But Day and Night,
the windy Sea doth throw.
Wilde murmuring cuff [...]s
about our deafned eares.
This sayd: her white Robe,
hid her Cheekes like spheres.
[Page] And then (with shame-affected,
since she vs'de
Words, that desir'd youths;
and her Friends accus'd▪)
Sh [...] blam'd her selfe for them,
and them for her.
Meane space,
Leander felt Loues Arrow erre
Through all his thoughts;
deuising how he might
Encounter Loue,
that dar'd him so to fight.
[Page] Minde changing Loue
wounds men, and cures againe:
Those Mo [...]tals, ouer whom
he list's to raigne,
Th' All-Tamer stoopes to:
in aduising how
They may with some ease
beare the yoke, his Bow
So, our Leander,
whom he hurt, he heal'd:
Who, hau [...]ng long
his hidden fire conceal'd,
[Page] And vex't with thoughts,
he thirsted to impart,
His stay he quitted,
wi [...]h this quickest Art.
Virgin, for thy Loue,
I will swim a waue
That Ships denies:
And though with fire it raue▪
In way to thy Bed,
all the Seas in one
I would despis [...]:
The Hellespont were none.
[Page] All Nights to swim
to one sweet bedde with thee,
Were nothing;
if when Loue had landed me,
All hid in weeds,
and in Veneran fome,
I brought (withall)
bright Heroes husbands home.
Not farre from hence,
and iust against thy Towne
Abydus stands,
that my Birth cal's mine owne.
[Page] Hold but a Torch then
in thy heauen-high Towre:
(Which I beholding,
to that starry Powre
May plough [...]he darke Seas,
as the Ship of Loue.)
I will not care
to see Bootes moue
Downe to the Sea:
Nor sharpe Orion traile
His neuer-wet Carre;
but arriue my saile
[Page] Against my Country,
at thy pleasing shore.
But (deere) take heed,
that no vngentle blo're
Thy Torch extinguish,
bearing all the Light
By which my life sailes,
least I lose thee quite.
Would'st thou my Name know
(as thou dost my house)
It is Leander,
louely Hero's Spouse.
[Page] Thus this kinde couple,
their close Marriage made,
And friendship
euer to be held in shade,
(Onely by witnesse
of one Nuptiall Light.)
Both vow'd: agreed,
that Hero euery Night,
[...]hould hold her Torch out:
euery Night, her Loue
The tedious passage
of the Se [...] should proue
[Page] The whole Euen
of the watchful Nuptia [...]s spent,
Against [...]heir wils:
the sterne powre of constraint
Enforc't their parting.
Hero to her Towre;
Leander,
(minding his returning howre)
Tooke of the Turret, Markes,
for feare he fail'd,
And to well-founded
broad Abydus [...]ail'd.
[Page] All Night, Both thirsted
[...]
O [...] each yong-ma [...]ri [...]d,
louely Man, and Wife.
And all day after,
No desire shot home,
But that the Chamber-decking
Night were come.
[...]nd now, Nights [...]ooty c [...]owd [...]s
clap't all [...] on,
Fraught all with sleepe:
yet tooke L [...] [...]der none.
[Page] But on th'oppos'd shore
of the noise-full Seas,
The Messenger
of glittering Marriages
Look't wishly for:
Or rather long'd to see,
The witn [...]sse of their Light
to Misery,
Farre of [...] discouer'd
in their Couert bed.
When Hero saw
the blackest Curtaine spred
[Page] Tha [...] vail'd the da [...]ke night:
her bright Torch she shew'd.
Whose Light no so [...]ner
th'eager Lou [...]r vi [...]w'd:
But Loue, his blood set
on as bright a Fire.
Together burn'd [...]he Torch,
and his Desire.
But hearing of the Sea,
the horrid rore,
With which, the tender ayre
the mad waues tore:
[Page] At first he trembled:
But at last he rear'd
High as the storme his spir [...],
and thus chear'd,
(Vsing these words to it)
his resolute minde▪
Loue d [...]eadfull is;
The Sea, with nought inclinde:
But Sea, is Water;
outward all his yre,
When Loue lights his feare
with an inward [...].
[Page] Take fire (my heart)
feare nought that flits and raues:
Be Loue himselfe to me,
despise these waues.
Art thou [...]o know,
that Venus birth was here?
Commands the Sea,
and all that greeues vs there?
This sayd, his [...]aire Limbes
of his weede, he strip't:
Which, at his he [...]d,
with both hands bound, he shipt.
[Page] Lept from the Shore,
and cast into the Sea
His louely body:
thrusting all his way
Vp to the Torch,
that still he thought did call:
He Ores, he Sterer,
he the Ship, and All▪
Hero aduanc't
vpon a Towre so hye,
As soone would lose on it,
the fixed'st eye.
[Page] And like her Goddesse star,
with her Light shining:
The windes, that alwayes
(as at her repining,
Would blast her pleasures)
with her va [...]le she che'kt,
And from their envies
did her Totch protect.
And this she neuer l [...]ft,
till she had brought
Leander, to the Hauenfull
shore he sought.
[Page] Then downe she ran,
and vp she lighted then
To her T [...]wr [...]s top,
the weariest of Men.
First, at the Gates,
(without a syllable vs'd)
She hug'd her panting husband,
all diffus'd
With somy drops,
still stilling from his haire:
Then brought she him
in to the inmost Faire
[Page] O [...] all, her Virgin Chamber;
That, (at best)
Was with her beau [...]ies,
ten times better drest.
His body then she clen [...]'d:
His body oyl'd
With Rosie Odors:
and his bosome ( [...]oyl'd
With the vnsauoury Sea)
she render'd sweet.
Then, in the high-made [...]ed,
(euen pan [...]ing yet)
[Page] Her selfe she powr'd
about her husband [...] brest,
And th [...]se words vtter'd▪
With too much vnrest,
O Hu [...]band,
you haue bought this litl [...] peace:
Husband, No o [...]her man
hath paid th'encrease
Of that huge sum of paines
you tooke for me.
And yet I know,
it is enough for thee
[Page] To suffer for my Loue,
the fishy sau [...]urs
The working Sea breaths▪
Come, lay all thy labors
On my all-thankfull bosome.
All this said,
He straight vngirdled her;
and Both parts paid
To Venus,
what her gentle statutes bound.
Here Weddings were▪
but not a Musicall sound,
[Page] Here bed-rites offer'd,
but no hymnes gaue praise:
No [...] Poe [...],
sacred w [...]dlocks worth did [...]aise.
No Torches
gilt the honor'd Nuptiall bed:
Nor [...]ny y [...]uths
much-mouing dances led.
No Father;
Nor no reuerend Mother sung.
Hymen, O Hymen,
blessing LOVES so yong.
[Page] But when the consummating
Howres had croun'd
The doun-right Nuptials,
a ca [...]me bed was found.
Silence, the Roome fixt;
Darknesse deck't the Bride,
But Hymnes, and such Rites,
farre were laide aside.
Night, was sole Gracer
of this N [...]ptiall house:
Cheer [...]full Auror [...]
neuer [...] Spous [...]
[Page] In any Beds
that were [...]oo broadly known,
Away he fled still,
to his Region,
And b [...]eath'd
insatiate of the absent Sun.
¶Hero kept all this
from her parents still;
Her Priestly weede was large,
and would not fill:
A Maid by Day she was,
a Wif [...] by Night:
[Page] Which both so lou'd,
they wisht it neuer light.
And thus (Both) hiding [...]
the strong Need of Loue:
In Venus secret sphere,
reioyc't to moue.
But soone their [...]oy di'de;
and that still-tost state
Of their sto [...]ne Nuptials,
drew but l [...]tle date.
For when the frosty winter
kept his Iusts,
[Page] Rousing together
all the horrid Gusts,
That from the euer-whirling
pits arise:
And those weake deepes,
that driue vp to the skie [...],
Against the drench't foundations,
making knocke
Their curled forheads:
Then with many a shocke
The windes and seas met;
made the stormes aloud,
[Page] Beate all the rough Sea
with a Pitchy cloud▪
And then the blacke Barke,
buffered with gales,
Earth checkes so rudely,
that in Two it fals.
The Seaman
flying Winters faithlesse Sea.
Yet (braue Leander)
All this be [...]t at thee,
Could not compell in thee
one fit of feare:
[Page] But when the cruell
faithlesse Messenger
(The Towre) appear'd,
and shew'd th'accustom'd light;
It stung thee on,
secure of all [...]he spight
The raging Sea spit.
But since Winter came,
Vnhappy Hero,
should haue cool'd her flame,
And lye without Leander;
No more lighting
[Page] Her short-liu'd Bed-starre:
but strange fate exciting
As well as Loue;
And both their pow'rs combin'd
Entic [...]ng her;
In her hand, neuer shin'd
The fatall Loue Torch
(but this one houre) more.
Night came: And now,
the Sea against the sho [...]e
Muster'd her winds vp:
from whose Wintry iawes
[Page] They belch't [...]heir rude
breaths out, in bitterest flawes▪
In mid [...]st of which,
Leander, with the Pride
Of his deere hope,
to boord his matchle [...]se Bride▪
[...]p, on the rough backe
o [...] [...]he high sea, leapes:
[...] then waues thrust vp wau [...]s;
[...]he watry heapes
[...]mbled together:
Sea and sky were mixt,
[Page] The fighting windes,
the frame of earth vnfixt.
Zephire and Eurus
flew in eithers face;
Notus and Boreas
wrastler like imbrace,
Aud tosse each other
with their bristled backes.
Ineuitable
were the horrid crackes
The shak [...]n Sea gaue:
Ruthfull [...] the wrackes
[Page] Leander suffer'd,
in the sauage gale,
Th'inexorable whirlepits
did exhale.
Often he [...]ra [...]'d to Venus▪
borne of Seas:
Neptune their King:
And Boreas, that t' would please
His Godhead,
for the Nimph Aitheas sake,
Not to forget,
the like s [...]elth he did make
[Page] For her deare Loue▪
touch't then, with his sad state,
But none would helpe him:
Loue, compels not Fate.
Euery way tost with waues,
and Aires r [...]de breath
Iustling together,
he was crush't to death.
No more his youthfull fo [...]ce
his feete commands,
Vnmou'd lay now
his late all-mouing hands.
[Page] His throat was turn'd
free channel to the flood,
And drinke went downe,
that did him farre from good.
No more the [...]alse Light
for the curst winde burn'd:
That of Leander
euer-to-be mourn'd,
Blew out the Loue, and soule;
when Hero still
Had watchfull eyes,
and a most constant [...]ill
[Page] To guide the voyage:
and the morning shin'd,
Yet not by her Light,
she her Loue could finde▪
She sto [...]d distract
with [...]i [...]erable woes;
And round about the Seas
broad shoulders, throwes
Her eye,
to second the ex [...]inguisht Light▪
And tried if any way
her husbands [...]ight
[Page] Erring in any part,
she could descry.
When, at her Turrets foote,
she saw him lye,
Mangled with Rockes,
and all embru'd; she tore
About her bre [...]t,
the curious weede she wore▪
And with a shrieke,
from off he [...] Turrets height,
Cast her faire body headlong,
That [...]ell right
[Page] On her dead husband:
Spent with him her breath,
And each won other,
in the worst of death.

Annotations vpon this Poem of Musaeus.

1. [...] signifies one, qui Nuptias apparat vel instruit.

2. [...], est qui sponsam sponso adducit [...]eu conciliat.

3. [...] socius in aliquo opere.

4. [...], [Page] signifies, Perdite a­mans; and therefore I en­large the Verball Transla­tion.

5. [...], &c.

[...], besides what is translated in the Latine; res­est mutiatur, Item mandatum a Nuntio perlatum; Item Fa­ma, and therefore I tran­slate it, Fame-freighted ship, because Leander calles himselfe [...], which is translated Nauis amoris, though [...] properly sig­nifies [Page] sulcus, or Tractus na­uis, vel serpentis, vel aetherea [...]gittae. &c.

6. [...], and [...], are of one s [...]n [...]ficarion; or haue their d [...]duction one; and seeme to be deduc't [...], 1. haerere. Vt sit odium quod animo infixum haeret. For odium is by Ci [...]ero defin'de, ira inueterata. I haue there­fore translated it acording to this deduction, because it expresses better: and ta­king the winde for the fate [Page] of the winde; which con­ceiu'd and appointed be­fore, makes it as inueterate or infixt.

7. [...]. Colore enim membrorū cubebat. A most excellent Hyperbole, being to be vn­derstood, she blusht al ouer her. Or, then followes ano­ther elegancie, as strange & hard to conceiue. The mere verball translation of the La [...]ine, being in th [...] sence either imperfect, or vtterly inelegant, which I must yet [Page] leaue to your iudgement, for your owne satisfaction. The words are

[...].

—Euntis vero Etiam Rosae candidam (indu­ta) tunicam sub talis splende­bant puellae.

To vnderstand which; that her white weede was al vn­derlin'd with Roses, & that they shin'd out of it as shee [Page] went, is p [...]ssing poore and absurd: and as grosse to haue her [...] all ouer with Rofes. [...] therefore to make the [...] answe [...]able in heighth and elegancy to the former, she [...]eem'd (blu­shing all ouer her White Robe, euen below her An­kles, as she went) a mouing Ro [...]e, as hauing the blus [...] of many Roses about her.

8. [...].

Apparuit vmbrosa Hesperus stella. Eregione is before; w t [Page] I English, & East. Th'Euen starre tooke vantage of her shade, v [...]z: of the Euening shade, which is the cause that Starres appeare.

9 [...], instabiles nutus puellae. [...] Eng­lish, her would, and would not. [...], signifying, Cui mens laxatae est & enerua: and of ex [...]remity therein, Amens, demens. [...], sum [...].

10 Demens sum she cals him [...], which signifies [Page] cui diffici [...]e fatum obtingit: ac­cording to which I English it, infelix (being the worde in the Latine) not expres­sing so particularly, because the word vnhappie in our Language hath diuers Vn­derstandings; as waggish or subtle, &c. And the o­ther well expressing an ill abodement in Hero, of his ill or hard fate: imagining straight, the strange & so­daine alteration in her, to be fatall.

11 [...], [Page] going before: it is Latin'd, Virginis ad Lectum difficile est ire. But [...], signifies, nullis machinis ex­pugnabilis; The way vnto a Virgins bedde, is vtterly bar'd.

12 [...].

Venerearum consuetudinum per se nuntiae sunt minoe.

Exceeding elegant. [...] signifying, qui sibi nun­tius est, id est, qui sine al [...]orum opera sua ipse nuntiat. Accor­ding to which I haue Eng­lish't [Page] it. [...] ▪ Lusus veneri. [...] also, whi [...] signifies minae, hauing a reciprocall Sig. in our tongue, beeing englisht Mines: Mines, as it is priuileg'd amongest vs being English, signifying Mines made vnder y e earth. I haue past it with that word, being fitte for this place in that vnderstāding.

13 [...], Corpus amo­rem parriens, & alicis, ac­cording to which I haue turn'd it.

[Page] 14 [...].

[...], signifies, qui tenera & delicata est cute, te­nerum; therfore not enough expressing, I haue enlarg'd the expression, as in his place.

15 [...] IS turn'd; Variorum verborum. [...], signifying mul­tinagus, erroneus, or errorum plenus, intending that sort of error that is in the Pla­nets; of whose wandering, they are called [...] [Page] sidera erranti. So that Hero tax't him for so bolde a liberty in wordes, as er'd toto coelo, from what was fit, or becam the youth of one so gracefull: which made her breake into the admy­ring exclamation; that one so yong and gracious, shold put on so experien [...]st and licentious a boldnesse, as in that holy temple encorag'd him to make Loue to her.

16 [...], it is Translated Domo altissima; but because it is a cōpound, [Page] and hath a grace superiour to the other [...], in his more neere and verball conuersi­on; [...], signifying, Coelum sua proceritate tan­gens, I haue so render'd it.

17 [...], translated madidus Maritus, when as [...] is taken heere for [...], signifying vnum & idem cubile habeus, which is more particular and true.

18 [...], & [...]. [...] signifies, La in altus [Page] aut profundus vt ab eius ac­cessu aberres, intending the Tower vppon which Hero stoode.

FINIS.

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