The loves of hero and leander :: :: University of Virginia Library

As it happen'd on a night,
Full of rain! and void of light!
Dismal darkness! (When, on high,
Ev'ry star had left the sky;
And below, by sleep opprest,
Ev'ry mortal gone to rest!)
Love stood knocking at my door;
Love! to me unknown before.

‘Whence, and who, so late at night;
(Words half-utter'd with affright)
‘Dares, said I, such knocking keep?
‘Dares, disturb my downy sleep?—
“Little cause have you to fear,
“Whence we come, or who we are:

(Love, with subtlety, replies)
“Only, pr'y-thee, stranger, rise;

“And some gentle care employ,
“On a little harmless boy:
“Drowning, wand'ring all the night,
“Full of rain! and void of light!

Mov'd at what the urchin said;
Easy fool! I rose from bed;
Lit a lamp, and op'd the door;
Where, indeed, a boy I spy'd;
Wings, who on his shoulders wore,
Bow and quiver by his side.
Ent'ring, I no more inquire;
But kindly place him by the fire,
His little hands, (so chill with cold)
In mine to warm, I fondly hold.
His little hairs, (so wet with rain)
I gently wring and dry again.
When straight reviving by my cares,
When warm'd his hands, and dry'd his hairs:
‘Friend, said he, I fain wou'd know,
‘How fares my dart? how fares my bow?
‘If proof against the wet or no?—
‘Friend! how fares my dart and bow!
He bent his bow, he fix'd his dart,
And shot it full into my heart;
Full! as the fiery serpent stings,
Then slily smiling, out he springs;
‘And now (said he) my friend, I know,
‘Safe is my dart; safe is my bow.
‘Happy for thee, cou'd'st thou but say
‘Thy heart were half as safe, as they.