Wherein Leander on her quiuering brest,

Breathlesse spoke some thing, and sigh'd out the rest; 280
Which so preuail'd, as he with small ado
Inclos'd her in his armes and kist her to.
And euerie kisse to her was as a charme,
And to Leander as a fresh alarme,

So that the truce was broke, and she alas,
(Poore sillie maiden) at his mercie was.
Loue is not ful of pittie (as men say)

But deaffe and cruell, where he meanes to pray.
Euen as a bird, which in our hands we wring,
Foorth plungeth, and oft flutters with her wing,
She trembling stroue, this strife of hers (like that
Which made the world) another world begat
Of vnknowne ioy. Treason was in her thought,
And cunningly to yeeld her selfe she sought.
Seeming not woon, yet woon she was at length,

285

290

295

In such warres women vse but halfe their strength.
Leander now like Theban Hercules,
Entred the orchard of Th'esperides,

Whose fruit none rightly can describe but hee
That puls or shakes it from the golden tree :
And now she wisht this night were neuer done,
And sigh'd to thinke vpon th'approching sunne,
For much it greeu'd her that the bright day-light
Should know the pleasure of this blessed night,
And them like Mars and Ericine display,
Both in each others armes chaind as they lay.
Againe she knew not how to frame her looke,
Or speake to him who in a moment tooke
That which so long so charily she kept,

300

305

And faine by stealth away she would haue crept,
And to some corner secretly haue gone,

Leauing Leander in the bed alone.

But as her naked feet were whipping out,
He on the suddaine cling'd her so about,

310

279-300 Owing probably to the displacement of a leaf in Marlowe's lost MS. these lines are given in wrong sequence in all previous editions. The early quartos all insert ll. 279-90 between 300 and 301, which cannot be right. Singer in his edition of 1821 shifted II. 289, 290 to a position between 278 and 291, and this order (278, 289–300, 279-88, 301) has been retained by all subsequent editors. 280 some things 15982, 1600 281 he om. 1637 287 pittie] mercy. 305 them conj. Broughton, Dyce etc.: then Qq displayd Qq 306 others] other 1600 lay

this] the 1600 display Singer etc.

304

That Meremaid-like vnto the floore she slid,
One halfe appear'd, the other halfe was hid.
Thus neere the bed she blushing stood vpright,
And from her countenance behold ye might

315

A kind of twilight breake, which through the heare,
As from an orient cloud, glymse here and there.
And round about the chamber this false morne
Brought foorth the day before the day was borne.
So Heroes ruddie cheeke Hero betrayd,
And her all naked to his sight displayd,
Whence his admiring eyes more pleasure tooke
Than Dis, on heapes of gold fixing his looke.
By this Apollos golden harpe began

320

325

To sound foorth musicke to the Ocean,
Which watchfull Hesperus no sooner heard,
But he the day bright-bearing Car prepar'd,
And ran before, as Harbenger of light,
And with his flaring beames mockt ougly night,
Till she o'recome with anguish, shame, and rage,
Dang'd downe to hell her loathsome carriage.

Desunt nonnulla.

330

316 One] And 15982, 1600 319 heare] haire 1629, 1637: air Singer etc. hair is probably meant 320 glymse] glimse 1629, 1637: glimps'd Singer, etc. The word intended is doubtless gleams. 330 day bright-bearing] Day's bright-bearing conj. Broughton : bright Day-bearing Dyce etc. 334 Dang'd] Hurld 1598, 1600 Desunt nonnulla 15981: The end of the second Sestyad 1598-1637. The edition 1598' ends here. The rest of the poem, Chapman's work, appeared first in ed. 15982, the text of which is from this point followed.

TO MY BEST ESTEEMED

AND WORTHELY HONORED

LADY, THE LADY WALSINGHAM,

one of the Ladies of her Maiesties
Bed-chamber.

I present your Ladiship with the last affections of the first two Louers that euer Muse shrinde in the Temple of Memorie; being drawne by strange instigation to employ some of my serious time in so trifeling a subiect, which yet made the first Author, diuine Musæus, eternall. And were it not that wee must subiect our accounts of these common receiued conceits to seruile custome ; it goes much against my hand to signe that for a trifling subiect, on which more worthines of soule hath been shewed, and weight of diuine wit, than can vouchsafe residence in the leaden grauitie of any Mony-Monger; in whose profession all serious subiects are concluded. But he that shuns trifles must shun the world; out of whose reuerend heapes of substance and austeritie, I can, and will, ere long, single, or tumble out as brainles and passionate fooleries, as euer panted in the bosome of the most ridiculous Louer. Accept it therfore (good Madam) though as a trifle, yet as a serious argument of my affection: for to bee thought thankefull for all free and honourable fauours, is a great summe of that riches my whole thrift intendeth.

Such vncourtly and sillie dispositions as mine, whose contentment hath other obiects than profit or glorie; are as glad, simply for the naked merit of vertue, to honour such as aduance her, as others that are hired to commend with deepeliest politique bountie.

It hath therefore adioynde much contentment to my desire of your true honour to heare men of desert in Court adde to mine owne knowledge of your noble disposition, how gladly you doe your best to preferre their desires; and haue as absolute respect to their meere good parts, as if they came perfumed and charmed with golden incitements. And this most sweet inclination, that flowes from the truth and eternitie of Nobles, assure your Ladiship doth more suite your other Ornaments, and makes more to the aduancement of your Name, and happines of your proceedings, then if (like others) you displaied Ensignes of state and sowrenes in your forehead, made smooth with nothing but sensualitie and presents.

This poore Dedication (in figure of the other vnitie betwixt

Sir Thomas and your selfe) hath reioynd you with him, my honoured best friend, whose continuance of ancient kindnes to my still-obscured estate, though it cannot encrease my loue to him, which hath euer been entirely circulare; yet shall it encourage my deserts to their utmost requitall, and make my hartie gratitude speake; to which the unhappines of my life hath hetherto been uncomfortable and painfull dumbnes.

By your Ladiships vowd in

most wished seruice:

George Chapman.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE

THIRD SESTYAD.

Leander to the enuious light

Resignes his night-sports with the night,
And swims the Hellespont againe ;
Thesme the Deitie soueraigne

Of Customes and religious rites
Appeares, reprouing his delites
Since Nuptiall honors he neglected;
Which straight he vowes shall be effected.
Faire Hero left Deuirginate

Waies, and with furie wailes her state:
But with her loue and womans wit
She argues, and approueth it.

New light giues new directions, Fortunes new

To fashion our indeuours that ensue,

More harsh (at lest more hard) more graue and hie
Our subiect runs, and our sterne Muse must flie.
Loues edge is taken off, and that light flame,
Those thoughts, ioyes, longings, that before became
High vnexperienst blood, and maids sharpe plights
Must now grow staid, and censure the delights,
That being enioyd aske iudgement; now we praise,
As hauing parted: Euenings crowne the daies.
And now ye wanton loues, and yong desires,
Pied vanitie, the mint of strange Attires;
Ye lisping Flatteries, and obsequious Glances,
Relentfull Musicks, and attractiue Dances,
And you detested Charmes constraining loue,

Shun loues stolne sports by that these Louers proue.

By this the Soueraigne of Heauens golden fires,

And yong Leander, Lord of his desires,

Together from their louers armes arose:
Leander into Hellespontus throwes

His Hero-handled bodie, whose delight
Made him disdaine each other Epethite.
And as amidst the enamourd waues he swims,
The God of gold of purpose guilt his lims,
That this word guilt, including double sence,
The double guilt of his Incontinence,

Argument. 6 reproving Dyce etc. improuing Qq