The Argument of the Fourth Sestyad. Hero, in sacred habit deck'd, Her scarf's description wrought by Fate. With lightning darted from her eyes: HERO AND LEANDER. THE FOURTH SESTYAD. Now from Leander's place she rose, and found Upon the altar; where in youth of day Those would she offer to the deities Of her fair Goddess, and her powerful son, And in that holy sort she vow'd to end them; That deck'd her in her secret sacred deeds: A crown of icicles, that sun nor fire And for her sake she ever since that time Choos'd doves to draw her coach through Heav'n's blue clime: Her plenteous hair in curled billows swims On her bright shoulder: her harmonious limbs That hung on them, as it durst not assail Nor did it cover, but adumbrate only All that ali-love-deserving paradise: It was as blue as the most freezing skies; * beauteous, edit. 1637, a reading more consonant with the genius of Chapman; the adjective fair being, by a figure, taken for her fair limbs. |