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. 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, 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 wreathed her largely spreading hair. Nor could the youth abstain, but he must wear The sacred ring wherewith she was endowed When first religious chastity she vowed. 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 He would have chased 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. O, none but gods have power 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 rebuked his son, Thinking to quench the sparkles new begun. But love resisted once grows passionate, And nothing more than counsel lovers hate. For as a hot proud horse highly disdains To have his head controlled, but breaks the reins, Spits forth the ringled bit, and with his hooves Checks the submissive ground; so he that loves, The more he is restrained, 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 stared he on’t, And prayed the narrow toiling Hellespont To part in twain, that he might come and go; But still the rising billows answered, “No.” With that he stripped him to the ivory skin And, crying “Love, I come,” leaped lively in. Whereat the sapphire visaged god grew proud, And made his capering Triton sound aloud,