That is a good deed that prevents a bad: Had I not yielded, slain myself I had. Hero Leander is, Leander Hero; Such virtue love hath to make one of two. If, then, Leander did my maidenhead git, Leander being myself, I still retain it: 360 We break chaste vows when we live loosely ever, But bound as we are, we live loosely never: Two constant lovers being join'd in one, Yielding to one another, yield to none. We know not how to vow till love unblind us, And vows made ignorantly never bind us. Too true it is, that, when 'tis gone, men hate The joy[66] as vain they took in love's estate: But that's since they have lost the heavenly light Should show them way to judge of all things right. 370 When life is gone, death must implant his terror: As death is foe to life, so love to error. Before we love, how range we through this sphere, Searching the sundry fancies hunted here: Now with desire of wealth transported quite Beyond our free humanity's delight; Now with ambition climbing falling towers, Whose hope to scale, our fear to fall devours; Now rapt with pastimes, pomp, all joys impure: In things without us no delight is sure. 380 But love, with all joys crowned, within doth sit: O goddess, pity love, and pardon it!" Thus spake she[67] weeping: but her goddess' ear Burn'd with too stern a heat, and would not hear. Ay me! hath heaven's strait fingers no more graces For such as Hero[68] than for homeliest faces? Yet she hoped well, and in her sweet conceit Weighing her arguments, she thought them weight, And that the logic of Leander's beauty, And them together, would bring proofs of duty; 390 And if her soul, that was a skilful glance Of heaven's great essence, found such imperance[69] In her love's beauties, she had confidence Jove loved him too, and pardoned her offence: Beauty in heaven and earth this grace doth win, It supples rigour, and it lessens sin. Thus, her sharp wit, her love, her secrecy, Trooping together, made her wonder why She should not leave her bed, and to the temple; Her health said she must live; her sex, dissemble. 400 She viewed Leander's place, and wished he were Turned to his place, so his place were Leander. "Ay me," said she, "that love's sweet life and sense Should do it harm! my love had not gone hence Had he been like his place: O blessËd place, Image of constancy! Thus my love's grace Parts nowhere, but it leaves something behind Worth observation: he renowns his kind: His motion is, like heaven's, orbicular, For where he once is, he is ever there. 410 This place was mine; Leander, now 'tis thine; Thou being myself, then it is double mine,