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 conceal'd 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 passionate, And nothing more than counsel lovers hate; For as a hot proud horse highly disdains To have his head controll'd, but breaks the reins, Spits forth the ringled 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 Hellespont 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-visag'd god 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 striv'd; the waves about him wound, And pull'd him to the bottom, where the ground Was strew'd 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 lusty god embrac'd him, call'd 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, 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 god put Helle's bracelet on his arm, And swore the sea should never do him harm. He clapp'd his plump cheeks, with his tresses play'd, And, smiling wantonly, his love bewray'd; He watch'd 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 lustful 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, 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 and kind, As for his love both earth and heaven pin'd; That of the cooling river durst not drink,