LEANDER: 7

Begun by Christopher Marloe; and finished by George Chapman.

Printed by Felix Kingston, for Paule Linley,and are to be folde in Paules Church-yard, at the figne of the Blacke-beare.

Blount's quarto edition of that year, containing only
Marlowe's part.

Linley's quarto edition of that year (Brit. Mus. C. 40.
e. 68).

Quarto edition of that year.

Edition of that year.

1622 = Quarto edition of that year.

1629 1637

Select English Poets, ed. S. W. Singer, No. VIII, 1821.
Robinson's edition of Marlowe, 1826.

Dyce's first edition of Marlowe, 1850.

Dyce's revised edition of Marlowe, 1858, etc.
Cunningham's edition of Marlowe, 1870, etc.
Bullen's edition of Marlowe, 1885.

The present editor.

Conjectures of J. B. in copy of Rob. (Brit. Mus.
11771 d).

Quotations from Hero and Leander in England's
Parnassus, 1600.

To the Right Worshipfull, Sir Tho

mas Walsingham, Knight.

Sir, wee thinke not our selues discharged of the dutie wee owe to our friend, when wee haue brought the breathlesse bodie to the earth for albeit the eye there taketh his euer farwell of that beloued obiect, yet the impression of the man, that hath beene deare vnto vs, liuing an after life in our memory, there 5 putteth vs in mind of farther obsequies due vnto the deceased. And namely of the performance of whatsoeuer we may iudge shal make to his liuing credit, and to the effecting of his determinations preuented by the stroke of death. By these meditations (as by an intellectuall will) I suppose my selfe executor to 10 the unhappily deceased author of this Poem, vpon whom knowing that in his life time you bestowed many kind fauors, entertaining the parts of reckoning and woorth which you found in him, with good countenance and liberall affection: I cannot but see so far into the will of him dead, that what- 15 soeuer issue of his brain should chance to come abroad, that the first breath it should take might be the gentle aire of your liking for since his selfe had ben accustomed thervnto, it would prooue more agreeable and thriuing to his right children, than any other foster countenance whatsoeuer. At this time 20 seeing that this vnfinished Tragedy happens vnder my hands to be imprinted; of a double duty, the one to your selfe, the other to the deceased, I present the same to your most fauourable allowance, offring my vtmost selfe now and euer to bee readie, At your Worships disposing :

(Ep. Ded.)

Edward Blunt.

I not om. 1629, 1637 3 euer om. 1637 6 farther] vnhappily 15981, 2, 1600: vnhappie 1606-37 18 thervnto] thereto 1613-37 22 a om.

other 1629, 1637 II 12 that om. 1629, 1637 1637 adouble 1629 15982 etc.

Signature Edward Blunt 15981: E. B.

25

Hero and Leander.

(THE ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST SESTYAD.

Heros description and her Loues,

The Phane of Venus; where he moues

His worthie Loue-suite, and attaines;
Whose blisse the wrath of Fates restraines,
For Cupids grace to Mercurie,
Which tale the Author doth implie.)1

On Hellespont guiltie of True-loues blood,
In view and opposit two citties stood,
Seaborderers, disioin'd by Neptunes might:
The one Abydos, the other Sestos hight.
At Sestos, Hero dwelt; Hero the faire,
Whom young Apollo courted for her haire,
And offred as a dower his burning throne,
Where she should sit for men to gaze vpon.
The outside of her garments were of lawne,
The lining purple silke, with guilt starres drawne,

5

IO

Her wide sleeues greene, and bordered with a groue,
Where Venus in her naked glory stroue,

To please the carelesse and disdainfull eies

Of proud Adonis that before her lies.

Her kirtle blew, whereon was many a staine,

Made with the blood of wretched Louers slaine.
Vpon her head she ware a myrtle wreath,

15

From whence her vaile reacht to the ground beneath.
Her vaile was artificiall flowers and leaues,
Whose workmanship both man and beast deceaues.
Many would praise the sweet smell as she past,
When t'was the odour which her breath foorth cast,
And there for honie bees haue sought in vaine,
And beat from thence, haue lighted there againe.
About her necke hung chaines of peble stone,
Which lightned by her necke, like Diamonds shone.

1 Add. 1598a 4 th'other 1629, 1637

20

25

3 Seaborders 1598-1613: corr. 1629, 1637
9 were] was Rob.
10 lining] linnen

She ware no gloues, for neither sunne nor wind
Would burne or parch her hands, but to her mind,
Or warme or coole them, for they tooke delite
To play vpon those hands, they were so white.
Buskins of shels all siluered vsed she,

30

And brancht with blushing corall to the knee;
Where sparrowes pearcht, of hollow pearle and gold,
Such as the world would woonder to behold:
Those with sweet water oft her handmaid fils,
Which as shee went would cherupe through the bils.
Some say, for her the fairest Cupid pyn'd,
And looking in her face, was strooken blind.

35

But this is true, so like was one the other,
As he imagyn'd Hero was his mother.
And oftentimes into her bosome flew,

40

And laid his childish head vpon her brest,

About her naked necke his bare armes threw,

So louely faire was Hero, Venus Nun,

And with still panting rockt, there tooke his rest.

As nature wept, thinking she was vndone;

45

Because she tooke more from her than she left,

And of such wondrous beautie her bereft :

Therefore in signe her treasure suffred wracke,

Since Heroes time, hath halfe the world beene blacke. 50 Amorous Leander, beautifull and yoong,

(Whose tragedie diuine Musæus soong)

Dwelt at Abidus: since him dwelt there none,

55

For whom succeeding times make greater mone.
His dangling tresses that were neuer shorne,
Had they beene cut, and vnto Colchos borne,
Would haue allur'd the vent'rous youth of Greece
To hazard more than for the golden Fleece.
Faire Cinthia wisht his armes might be her spheare,
Greefe makes her pale, because she mooues not there. 60
His bodie was as straight as Circes wand,

Ioue might haue sipt out Nectar from his hand.

Euen as delicious meat is to the tast,

So was his necke in touching, and surpast

The white of Pelops shoulder. I could tell ye,

How smooth his brest was, & how white his bellie,
And whose immortall fingars did imprint
That heauenly path, with many a curious dint,

40 his] her 1613 44 rockt 1598': rocke 15982 etc. 1637, Dyce etc.: may 1600-29, Rob.

65

54 make 1598, 55 dandling 1629, 1637