“ At length her father resolved to marry her within three days, though she had opposed it with her tears and prayers, to prevent a war and to atone for his brother’s death. This fatal decree possessed Hero with mortal fears; so that she seeing no hope but either to destroy herself or be forced into the arms of a man she hated for Leander’s proffered aid, in case of war, would not be accepted by her father, she consented the next night he should come with a small ship to fetch her and Amorissa with all her jewels and treasures into Greece ”

“ This woman being of a ready and quick understanding, found by the young lady’s often changing colour, and sometimes hearing a sigh escape when she spoke of Leander that she had more than ordinary concern for him, resolving to dive more deeply into her thoughts, she urged her many times to know why she so earnestly enquired into the fame and welfare of his person above all others? ”

“ Amorissa undertook this, but begged that affairs might be carried on as privately as possible for that Altemansor, prince of Persepolis, had declared himself a lover of the princess Hero, and by reason of the power he had in that country, and his influence over the father of her mistress might much obstruct their loves, if not make it prove of fatal consequence. To all this Leander consented, and gave himself wholly up to be conducted by her management. ”

“ She most modestly refused, and said, it was the prize of his valour. But he entreated her in so particular a manner, that at length she accepted it, declaring she would keep it for his sake. Many admiring this, some with wonder, and others not without jealousy; prince Armelious was well pleased with it, as imagining this stranger could be no other than his gallant deliverer; and the jests being ended, he caused a lord near him to go and invite him into the hall, where a sumptuous entertainment was provided ”

“ When the princess read this letter, she was transported with joy and called Amorissa to consult what was best to be done, and it was agreed between them that Amorissa should go in search of him with the following letter.
Sir, though you are a stranger with whom I never had any conversation, yet the fame of Leander’s virtues and renowned deeds, which have taken up the discourse of all the world, cannot. you may well imagine but have reached the ears of Hero, and created in her an esteem worthy of so deserving a person ”

“ Morning being come he laid his armour in a safe place, and took only his horse, and went to the castle of Sestus, where the bridge being down, and the gates opened, he entered, and took him a secret lodging in a little house in the remotest place where Amorissa often visited him, and divers letters passed betwixt him and Hero, who sometimes admitted him into her lodgingsAt length Hero resolved, that if she could not gain her father’s consent, she would without farther delay marry Leander, and pass over into Greece with him ”

“ He had not been there long before he heard dismal cries as of people in distress, and presently a man all bloody and wounded came running out of the forest, whereupon mounting his horse he had brought with him, he came up to the miserable parson, and demanding who had missed him? ”

“ At which he started and looked pale, protesting that had he not already promised her to Altemansor, there was no man under heaven he could more gladly have bestowed her on, than Leander, whose fame and worth had sufficiently spread over Asia and Europe ”

“ Pardon me, divine creature, if I thus presume to prostrate myself hefore you, in hopes that so much goodness can pardon a crime of so high a nature, and espccially this, seeing it is authorised by love, whose commands must be obeyed, and whose flames are irresistable. ”

“ These men planted themselves in a wood he was to pass, and when he came opposite them, they all rushed out upon him with their drawn swords, and gave him a furious assault; but he who was never used to fear drew his trusty sword, that had never failed him, and laid about him so furiously, that in a very short time he sent eleven of them to keep company with the dead, while hc that remained: fell on his knees and begged his life, which he generously gave him, upon his confessing who employed them; at hearing which, Leander could not hut wonder how any nobleman could be guilty of such baseness ”

“ By this time Armelious and his company were come to lend what assistance they could, and seeing fair Hero rescued, they would have fallen at the feet of their deliverer, but be generously withheld them from doing it, alledging that he had done nothing but what all good and just men ought to hazard in such cases, to rescue the oppressed, and punish the oppressor ”