and graceful nature of Apollonius; and in the peril and tumult of the catastrophe, rising to the gloomy grandeur of Homeric description.

The torch that witness'd stealthy loves, and him
Who dared, with ocean-wandering nuptials, swim
The midnight surge; embraces veil'd in shade,
That ne'er the morn's immortal eyes survey'd ;
Abydos; Sestos; where sweet Hero lay,
A bride, unconscious of the blush of day;
Oh goddess tell!-

The graceful virgin, of a noble strain,
As priestess minister'd in Venus' fane:

But mix'd not with the blithe-assembling fair,
Nor midst the youthful dancers skimm'd in air:
She shunn'd the curious glance of female eyes,
And women's beauty-kindled jealousies.—
Now the throng'd festival of Venus came,
By Sestians held to fair Adonis' fame :
From farthest isles, encircled by the main,
Flock'd to the gaudy day a countless train

From Cyprus' wave-wash'd rocks, and green Hæmonia's plain.

No woman in Cythera's cities staid,

Nor one on hills of Libanus delay'd,

Where dancers twine midst cedar-fragrant glades;

Fair Phrygians haste, and near Abydos' maids.
No maid-enamour'd youths are then away,

Who still the rumour'd festival obey.

They bring no incense to the immortal shrine,
But seek the maids who there assembled shine.
Now Hero walk'd the fane with virgin grace;
A shining beauty lightening from her face,
As white the moon emerges to the view
With her clear visage of transparent hue,—
Such Hero's cheek; but on those cheeks of snow,
Were two vermilion circles seen to glow:
And he, that look'd on Hero's limbs, had said,
That meads of roses there their colours spread.
Soft blush'd her tinted limbs; her ancles glow'd
With roses, as the robe's white drapery flow'd
Light-wafted with her step; soft graces skim
Round all her form, and float from every limb:
Three Graces live in legendary lies:

A thousand spring from Hero's laughing eyes.
As o'er the temple's marble floor she moved,
Men's eyes, hearts, souls, with all her motions roved.
Thou too, Leander! martyr of desire,

Didst view the noble maid with glance of fire;

But loth, in secret, passion's stings to prove,
And yield the mind a prey to wasting love;
Loth, while with flamy-breathing dart subdued,
To drag a life of sighing solitude

Without the beauteous maid. The torch of flame
Fierce on the heart from mingling eyebeams came :
His heart quick trembled,-

Shameless from love, some few soft steps he took,
Confronting stood, and fix'd the 'virgin's look;

Turning his sidelong eyes, with luring wile,
By silent hints the damsel to beguile.

She, when his art she mark'd, in conscious grace
Smil❜d to herself, and oft she veil'd her face;
Yet, stealthily, with secret beck, the maid
Twinkling her eyelids, every sign repaid:
With rapture flush'd, the gazing youth believed
His signal answer'd, and his suit received;
And long'd for hidden hours. In western bay
Now glimmering sank the light-contracted day:
Full opposite on evening's shadowy verge,
Bright Hesper's star appear'd above the surge.
When, as he saw the blackness-gathering shade,
Embolden'd, touch'd he close the lonely maid:
Her rose-tipp'd fingers in soft silence press'd,
And drew a sigh long-breathing from his breast.
She silently, while veil'd in gloom they stand,
Draws as in anger back her roseate hand;
But when Leander felt the maid he loved
With sudden starts and wavering gestures moved,
He boldly twitch'd her robe of various hue,
And towards the sanctuary compulsive drew.
With tardy feet, as loth, the virgin went,
And female words were ready to resent:

"What madness moves thee, stranger? wretch! forbear
To drag a virgin, nor my vesture tear :
Begone, and dread my wealthy parents' ire;
For Venus' priestess ill beseems desire;
And hard the passage to a virgin's bed :”

So threaten'd she; what virgins say she said.

No female threats could make his ears afraid :
He knew the signs of a consenting maid.
Her fragrant rose-complexion'd neck he press'd
With clinging lips, love thrilling in his breast:
Then whisper'd: "Oh! thou wonder of this earth!—
Pity my love, and listen to my prayer.—
Priestess of Venus, Venus' rites employ :-
Me Venus' self, commissions now to thee.
Hast thou of that Arcadian virgin read?
How Atalanta shunn'd Milanion's bed,
A maiden vow'd? But angry Venus tore
Her heart with love, for him she scorn'd before.
Then be persuaded, sweet! and fear to prove
Th' indignant anger of the queen of love.—"

*

*

*

*

*

His words sow'd love her thoughts bewilder'd stray'd.
Speechless the virgin stood, with downcast eye,
And veil'd her cheek that glow'd with modesty.
With tip-toe step she lightly paced the ground,
And bashful clipp'd her folded mantle round.
Signs of soft yielding :-

Already does her thrilling bosom prove

The bitter-sweet, voluptuous stings of love.

*

*

She views Leander with entranced gaze:
Then on the ground she bends her fringed eyes;
His look dilates in frenzied ecstasies:
Still on her smooth-complexion'd neck, that turns
With sweeping bend, his glance insatiate burns :
Till Hero thus with softest accent said,

"Whence were these ways of soft delusion known? Who to my country led thee o'er the main?

Ah me!—but all thou say'st is said in vain :

How should an unknown wanderer share my love?

*

*

*

*

*

But tell-conceal them not-thy country and thy

name.

Mine is not hid from thee; on rumour flown,
The name of Hero is not quite unknown.
A lofty tower my mansion; where around
Roars the deep ocean with eternal sound;
The spiry walls of Sestos rise behind;
There, by my parents' stern device confin'd,

I, with a single damsel, lonely dwell,

Where rolls the neighbouring sea with billowy swell On the steep shore: no friends my hours engage,

No youthful playmates of congenial age:

In waking daylight, or in nightly sleep,

My ears are fill'd with winds, and voices of the deep." She veil'd again her rosy cheek.

Words of close wiles: "Oh, virgin! for thy sake
Will I the wild waves cross,-

For in a city near thy own I dwell:

Abydos fronts thy Sestian citadel.

But let a torch, from that high tower display'd,
Shine opposite athwart the midnight shade :
The light discern'd shall guide me straight before
To the sweet haven of thy country's shore ;