"There is no beldam nurse to powt nor lower When wantoning we revell in my tower, Nor need I top my turret with a light, To guide thee to me as thou swim"st by night.""--_Broughton._
[22] So the old eds.--Dyce reads "about."
[23] We are reminded of _Lycidas_:--
"Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears And slits the thin-spun life."
[24] Omitted in ed. 1600 and later 4tos.
[25] This word cannot be right. Query, "high-aspiring?"
THE SECOND SESTIAD.
_The Argument of the Second Sestiad._
Hero of love takes deeper sense, And doth her love more recompense: Their first night"s meeting, where sweet kisses Are th" only crowns of both their blisses He swims t" Abydos, and returns: Cold Neptune with his beauty burns; Whose suit he shuns, and doth aspire Hero"s fair tower and his desire.
By this, sad Hero, with love unacquainted, Viewing Leander"s face, fell down and fainted.
He kiss"d her, and breath"d life[26] into her lips; Wherewith, as one displeas"d, away she trips; Yet, as she went, full often look"d behind, And many poor excuses did she find To linger by the way, and once she stay"d, And would have turn"d again, but was afraid, In offering parley, to be counted light: So on she goes, and, in her idle flight, 10 Her painted fan of curled plumes let fall, Thinking to train Leander therewithal.
He, being a novice, knew not what she meant, But stay"d, and after her a letter sent; Which joyful Hero answer"d 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, 20 Had spread the board, with roses strew"d 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 like[27] affections meet; 30 For from the earth to heaven is Cupid raised, Where fancy is in equal balance paised.[28]) Yet she this rashness suddenly repented, And turn"d aside, and to herself lamented, As if her name and honour had been wronged By being possessed of him for whom she longed; I, and she wished, albeit not from her heart, That he would leave her turret and depart.
The mirthful G.o.d of amorous pleasure smiled To see how he this captive nymph beguiled; 40 For hitherto he did but fan the fire, And kept it down, that it might mount the higher.
Now wax"d 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 her anger, if he were displeased: O, what G.o.d would not therewith be appeased? 50 Like aesop"s c.o.c.k, this jewel he enjoyed, And as a brother with his sister toyed, Supposing nothing else was to be done, Now he her favour and goodwill had won.
But know you not that creatures wanting sense, By nature have a mutual appetence, And, wanting organs to advance a step, Mov"d by love"s force, unto each other lep?
Much more in subjects having intellect Some hidden influence breeds like effect. 60 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[29] 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, 70 As in plain terms, yet cunningly, he"d crave[30] 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, 80 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 for ever.
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. 90 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 the sun, that through th" horizon peeps, As pitying these lovers, downward creeps; 100 So that in silence of the cloudy night, Though it was morning, did he take his flight.
But what the secret trusty night concealed, Leander"s amorous habit soon revealed: With Cupid"s myrtle was his bonnet crowned, About his arms the purple riband wound, Wherewith she wreath"d her largely-spreading hair; Nor could the youth abstain, but he must wear The sacred ring wherewith she was endowed, When first religious chast.i.ty she vowed; 110 Which made his love through Sestos to be known, And thence unto Abydos sooner blown Than he could sail; for incorporeal Fame, Whose weight consists in nothing but her name, Is swifter than the wind, whose tardy plumes Are reeking water and dull earthly fumes.
Home when he came, he seemed not to be there, But, like exiled air thrust from his sphere, Set in a foreign place; and straight from thence, Alcides-like, by mighty violence, 120 He would have chas"d away the swelling main, That him from her unjustly did detain.
Like as the sun in a diameter Fires and inflames objects removed far, And heateth kindly, shining laterally; So beauty sweetly quickens when "tis nigh, But being separated and removed, Burns where it cherished, murders where it loved.
Therefore even as an index to a book, So to his mind was young Leander"s look. 130 O, none but G.o.ds have power[31] their love to hide!
Affection by the countenance is descried; The light of hidden fire itself discovers, And love that is concealed betrays poor lovers.
His secret flame apparently was seen: Leander"s father knew where he had been, And for the same mildly rebuk"d his son, Thinking to quench the sparkles new-begun.
But love, resisted once, grows pa.s.sionate, And nothing more than counsel lovers hate; 140 For as a hot proud horse highly disdains To have his head controlled, but breaks the reins, Spits forth the ringled[32] bit, and with his hoves Checks the submissive ground; so he that loves, The more he is restrain"d, the worse he fares: What is it now but mad Leander dares?
"O Hero, Hero!" thus he cried full oft; And then he got him to a rock aloft, Where having spied her tower, long star"d he on"t, And pray"d the narrow toiling h.e.l.lespont 150 To part in twain, that he might come and go; But still the rising billows answer"d, "No."
With that, he stripp"d him to the ivory skin, And, crying, "Love, I come," leap"d lively in: Whereat the sapphire-visaged G.o.d grew proud, And made his capering Triton sound aloud, Imagining that Ganymede, displeas"d, Had left the heavens; therefore on him he seiz"d.
Leander strived; the waves about him wound, And pull"d him to the bottom, where the ground 160 Was strewed with pearl, and in low coral groves Sweet-singing mermaids sported with their loves On heaps of heavy gold, and took great pleasure To spurn in careless sort the shipwreck treasure; For here the stately azure palace stood, Where kingly Neptune and his train abode.
The l.u.s.ty G.o.d embrac"d him, called him "Love,"
And swore he never should return to Jove: But when he knew it was not Ganymed, For under water he was almost dead, 170 He heav"d him up, and, looking on his face, Beat down the bold waves with his triple mace, Which mounted up, intending to have kiss"d him, And fell in drops like tears because they miss"d him.
Leander, being up, began to swim, And, looking back, saw Neptune follow him: Whereat aghast, the poor soul gan to cry, "O, let me visit Hero ere I die!"
The G.o.d put h.e.l.le"s bracelet on his arm, And swore the sea should never do him harm. 180 He clapped his plump cheeks, with his tresses played, And, smiling wantonly, his love bewrayed; He watched his arms, and, as they open"d wide At every stroke, betwixt them would he slide, And steal a kiss, and then run out and dance, And, as he turn"d, cast many a l.u.s.tful glance, And throw him gaudy toys to please his eye, And dive into the water, and there pry Upon his breast, his thighs, and every limb, And up again, and close beside him swim, 190 And talk of love. Leander made reply, "You are deceiv"d; I am no woman, I."
Thereat smil"d Neptune, and then told a tale, How that a shepherd, sitting in a vale, Play"d with a boy so lovely-fair[33] and kind, As for his love both earth and heaven pin"d; That of the cooling river durst not drink, Lest water-nymphs should pull him from the brink; And when he sported in the fragrant lawns, Goat-footed Satyrs and up-staring[34] Fauns 200 Would steal him thence. Ere half this tale was done, "Ay me," Leander cried, "th" enamoured sun, That now should shine on Thetis" gla.s.sy bower, Descends upon my radiant Hero"s tower: O, that these tardy arms of mine were wings!"
And, as he spake, upon the waves he springs.
Neptune was angry that he gave no ear, And in his heart revenging malice bare: He flung at him his mace; but, as it went, He call"d it in, for love made him repent: 210 The mace, returning back, his own hand hit, As meaning to be venged for darting it.
When this fresh-bleeding wound Leander viewed, His colour went and came, as if he rued The grief which Neptune felt: in gentle b.r.e.a.s.t.s Relenting thoughts, remorse, and pity rests; And who have hard hearts and obdurate minds, But vicious, hare-brained, and illiterate hinds?
The G.o.d, seeing him with pity to be moved, Thereon concluded that he was beloved. 220 (Love is too full of faith, too credulous, With folly and false hope deluding us); Wherefore, Leander"s fancy to surprise, To the rich ocean for gifts he flies: Tis wisdom to give much; a gift prevails When deep persuading oratory fails, By this, Leander, being near the land, Cast down his weary feet, and felt the sand.
Breathless albeit he were, he rested not Till to the solitary tower he got; 230 And knocked and called: at which celestial noise The longing heart of Hero much more joys, Than nymphs and shepherds when the timbrel rings, Or crooked dolphin when the sailor sings.
She stayed not for her robes, but straight arose, And, drunk with gladness, to the door she goes; Where seeing a naked man, she screeched for fear (Such sights as this to tender maids are rare), And ran into the dark herself to hide (Rich jewels in the dark are soonest spied). 240 Unto her was he led, or rather drawn, By those white limbs which sparkled through the lawn.
The nearer that he came, the more she fled, And, seeking refuge, slipt into her bed; Whereon Leander sitting, thus began, Through numbing cold, all feeble, faint, and wan.
"If not for love, yet, love, for pity-sake, Me in thy bed and maiden bosom take; At least vouchsafe these arms some little room, Who, hoping to embrace thee, cheerly swoom: 250 This head was beat with many a churlish billow, And therefore let it rest upon thy pillow."
Herewith affrighted, Hero shrunk away, And in her lukewarm place Leander lay; Whose lively heat, like fire from heaven fet,[35]
Would animate gross clay, and higher set The drooping thoughts of base-declining souls, Than dreary-Mars-carousing nectar bowls.
His hands he cast upon her like a snare: She, overcome with shame and sallow[36] fear, 260 Like chaste Diana when Actaeon spied her, Being suddenly betray"d, div"d down to hide her; And, as her silver body downward went, With both her hands she made the bed a tent, And in her own mind thought herself secure, O"ercast with dim and darksome coverture.
And now she lets him whisper in her ear, Flatter, entreat, promise, protest, and swear: Yet ever, as he greedily a.s.say"d To touch those dainties, she the harpy play"d, 270 And every limb did, as a soldier stout, Defend the fort, and keep the foeman out; For though the rising ivory mount he scal"d, Which is with azure circling lines empal"d, Much like a globe (a globe may I term this, By which Love sails to regions full of bliss), Yet there with Sisyphus he toil"d in vain, Till gentle parley did the truce obtain Even[37] as a bird, which in our hands we wring, Forth plungeth, and oft flutters with her wing, 280 She trembling strove: this strife of hers, like that Which made the world, another world begat Of unknown joy. Treason was in her thought, And cunningly to yield herself she sought.
Seeming not won, yet won she was at length: In such wars women use but half their strength.
Leander now, like Theban Hercules, Enter"d the orchard of th" Hesperides; Whose fruit none rightly can describe, but he That pulls or shakes it from the golden tree. 290 Wherein Leander, on her quivering breast, Breathless spoke something, and sigh"d out the rest; Which so prevail"d, as he with small ado, Enclos"d her in his arms, and kiss"d her too: And every kiss to her was as a charm, And to Leander as a fresh alarm: So that the truce was broke, and she, alas, Poor silly maiden, at his mercy was.
Love is not full of pity, as men say, But deaf and cruel where he means to prey. 300 And now she wish"d this night were never done, And sigh"d to think upon th" approaching sun; For much it griev"d her that the bright day-light Should know the pleasure of this blessed night, And them, like Mars and Erycine, display[38]
Both in each other"s arms chain"d as they lay.
Again, she knew not how to frame her look, Or speak to him, who in a moment took That which so long, so charily she kept; And fain by stealth away she would have crept, 310 And to some corner secretly have gone, Leaving Leander in the bed alone.
But as her naked feet were whipping out, He on the sudden cling"d her so about, That, mermaid-like, unto the floor she slid; One half appear"d, the other half was hid.
Thus near the bed she blushing stood upright, And from her countenance behold ye might A kind of twilight break, which through the air,[39]
As from an orient cloud, glimps"d[40] here and there; 320 And round about the chamber this false morn Brought forth the day before the day was born.
So Hero"s ruddy cheek Hero betray"d, And her all naked to his sight display"d: Whence his admiring eyes more pleasure took Than Dis,[41] on heaps of gold fixing his look.
By this, Apollo"s golden harp began To sound forth music to the ocean; Which watchful Hesperus no sooner heard, But he the bright Day-bearing car[42] prepar"d, 330 And ran before, as harbinger of light, And with his flaring beams mock"d ugly Night, Till she, o"ercome with anguish, shame, and rage, Dang"d[43] down to h.e.l.l her loathsome carriage.
FOOTNOTES:
[26] Cf. _Rom. and Jul._ v. 1--
"I dreamed my lady came and found me dead, Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to think!-- And _breathed such life with kisses in my lips_, That I revived and was an emperor."
[27] Omitted in eds. 1600, 1606, 1613, and 1637.
[28] Peised, weighed.
[29] Rooms were strewed with rushes before the introduction of carpets.
Shakespeare, like Marlowe, attributed the customs of his own day to ancient times. Cf. _Cymb._ ii. 2--
"Our Tarquin thus Did softly press the _rushes_ ere he wakened The chast.i.ty he wounded."
[30] Old eds. "crau"d."
[31] Some eds. give "O, none have power but G.o.ds."