Hero, in sacred habit deckt, Doth private sacrifice effect. Her scarf's description, wrought by Fate; Ostents that threaten her estate; The strange, yet physical, events, Leander's counterfeit[70] presents. In thunder Cyprides descends, Presaging both the lovers' ends: Ecte, the goddess of remorse, With vocal and articulate force 10 Inspires Leucote, Venus' swan, T' excuse the Beauteous Sestian. Venus, to wreak her rites' abuses, Creates the monster Eronusis, Inflaming Hero's sacrifice With lightning darted from her eyes; And thereof springs the painted beast That ever since taints every breast. Now from Leander's place she rose, and found Her hair and rent robe scatter'd on the ground; Which taking up, she every piece did lay Upon an altar, where in youth of day She us'd t' exhibit private sacrifice: Those would she offer to the deities Of her fair goddess and her powerful son, As relics of her late-felt passion; And in that holy sort she vow'd to end them, In hope her violent fancies, that did rend them, 10 Would as quite fade in her love's holy fire, As they should in the flames she meant t' inspire. Then put she on all her religious weeds, That decked her in her secret sacred deeds; A crown of icicles, that sun nor fire Could ever melt, and figur'd chaste desire; A golden star shined in her naked breast, In honour of the queen-light of the east. In her right hand she held a silver wand, On whose bright top Peristera did stand. 20 Who was a nymph, but now transformed a dove, And in her life was dear in Venus' love; And for her sake she ever since that time Choosed doves to draw her coach through heaven's blue clime. Her plenteous hair in curlËd billows swims On her bright shoulder: her harmonious limbs Sustained no more but a most subtile veil, That hung on them, as it durst not assail Their different concord; for the weakest air Could raise it swelling from her beauties fair; 30 Nor did it cover, but adumbrate only Her most heart-piercing parts, that a blest eye Might see, as it did shadow, fearfully, All that all-love-deserving paradise: It was as blue as the most freezing skies; Near the sea's hue, for thence her goddess came: On it a scarf she wore of wondrous frame; In midst whereof she wrought a virgin's face, From whose each cheek a fiery blush did chase Two crimson flames, that did two ways extend, 40 Spreading the ample scarf to either end; Which figur'd the division of her mind, Whiles yet she rested bashfully inclin'd, And stood not resolute to wed Leander;