The History of Polindor and Flostella With Other Poems. By I. H. [i.e. John Harington] The third Edition, Revised and much Enlarged |
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SONG. Hero and Leander: Fram'd after that of Dido was a Carthage Queen, &c. |
 | The History of Polindor and Flostella |  |
SONG. Hero and Leander: Fram'd after that of Dido was a Carthage Queen, &c.
1
HERO.'Las unhappy Mayd,
That ere Loves winged Boy
So treacherously thy Heart betray'd,
To Love, but scarce enjoy:
Curs'd be the Hand, the cruell Bow,
Which did wound thy poor Heart so;
Accurst the ravenous Wave,
That raging, bent so murdrously,
Forc'd thy sweet-fac'd Boy to dye,
And needs would be his Grave.
2
HERO,Long with wishing eyes
Awayts her Curled Love,
And from her Tower entreats the skies
And waters gentle prove:
Many a Vow she numbred or'e
(If would wast him safe to Shore)
184
For why, she fears too rough the stream
For her poor Delight to swim,
And least should prove Unkind
3
HERO,Sees with smoothest Brow
The well pleas'd Waters smile,
Those Winds are bush'd, and Heav'ns fair show,
The rather to Beguile:
When strait the Nymph from far discries
(Nimble are poor Lovers eyes)
LEANDER Waves embrace;
And leaving shore, with cast-up eye
If thence his Goddess might espy,
To glide the Streams apace.
4
HERO,Looks with gladdest thought,
And Ravisht hasts to shore;
When strait the sturdy Waves high-wrought,
And Bellowing Winds do roar:
When she the storm encreasing new,
With Tears and Sighes which from her blew,
Does see her Lover fail;
And, th' onely Bark, his Body show
(Shipwrack'd) beaten to and fro,
No struglings might avail.
5
HERO,Grieves, and by and by
LEANDER 'fore her Eyes,
With stretcht-out Arme and many a Cry
On HERO, sinks and Dies:
Who takes no time now to Complain,
Calls and cryes since all but vain,
She sees no cause to live;
And so the unpittying Wave bestrides,
Which soon her dainty'st Body hides,
And Both one Tomb does give.
| The History of Polindor and Flostella | |