And ran into the darke herselfe to hide.

Rich jewels in the darke are soonest spide.

240

Vnto her was he led, or rather drawne,

By those white limmes, which sparckled through the lawne.
The neerer that he came, the more she fled,
And seeking refuge, slipt into her bed.

Whereon Leander sitting, thus began,

245

Through numming cold all feeble, faint and wan:

If not for loue, yet, loue, for pittie sake, Me in thy bed and maiden bosome take,

At least vouchsafe these armes some little roome,

Who hoping to imbrace thee, cherely swome.

250

This head was beat with manie a churlish billow,
And therefore let it rest vpon thy pillow.
Herewith afrighted Hero shrunke away,
And in her luke-warme place Leander lay,
Whose liuely heat like fire from heauen fet,
Would animate grosse clay, and higher set

255

The drooping thoughts of base declining soules,
Then drerie Mars carowsing Nectar boules.
His hands he cast vpon her like a snare,

She ouercome with shame and sallow feare,
Like chast Diana, when Acteon spyde her,

260

Being sodainly betraide, dyu'd downe to hide her.
And as her siluer body downeward went,
With both her hands she made the bed a tent,
And in her owne mind thought her selfe secure,
O'recast with dim and darksome couerture.
And now she lets him whisper in her eare,
Flatter, intreat, promise, protest and sweare,
Yet euer as he greedily assayd

265

To touch those dainties, she the Harpey playd,
And euery lim did as a soldier stout,

Defend the fort, and keep the foe-man out.
For though the rising yu'rie mount he scal'd,
Which is with azure circling lines empal'd,
Much like a globe, (a globe may I tearme this,
By which loue sailes to regions full of blis,)
Yet there with Sysiphus he toyld in vaine,
Till gentle parlie did the truce obtaine.

270

275

257 dropping 1629, 1637 267 now om. 1637 270 daintie 1613 272 foe-men

246 Through] Though 15989, 1600 260 sallow] shallow 1629, 1637 euer] euer after 1613

269

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,

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,

300

305

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 Ul. 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 15982, 1600 Desunt nonnulla 15981: The end of the second Sestyad 1598–1637. The edition 15981 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 vtmost 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 scruice:

George Chapman.