Musaeus Grammaticus

“ Sing, Muse, the conscious torch, whose nightly flame,
(The shining signal of a brighter dame,
Thro' trackless waves the bold Leander led,
To taste the dang'rous joys of Hero's bed:
Sing the stol'n bliss in gloomy shades conceal'd,
And never to the blushing morn reveal'd.
I see the lovely youth triumphant ride
O'er the proud billows of th' insulted tide;
And lo! a light shoots glimm'ring from afar,
Of nuptial sweets the kind-presaging star:
A light! which (would propitious Jove encline)
In brighter glory should for ever shine ”

“ Who-e'er thou art, that hither bend'st thy way,
Oh! for a while the pleasing coast survey!
This, this the tow'r, whence the kind light did guide
The swimming lover to his Sestian bride:
That the fam'd Hellespont, he nightly crost,
Which still in murmurs groans Leander lost.
But haste we love's soft triumphs to relate,
From the first dawnings to its ripen'd state:
And whence the youth so passionate became,
And how the nymph glow'd with as fierce a flame. ”

“ Ten thousand graces sporting in her eyes.
The bright immortal must with pleasure hear
A priestess, far above all mortals fair:
In beauty's charms (could beauty's cause be try'd)
If not a rival, surely near ally'd.
No wonder then each youth a flame confest,
And with heav'd hands the sweet enchantress blest:
None but inspir'd with tender thoughts, began
To wish himself (in vain!) the happy man.
Desiring eyes on the lov'd object hung,
Where-e'er she glided thro' the wond'ring throng,
And scatter'd pleasing ruin all along. ”

“ Tho' winds, and flames, and floods command my stay.
These arms the foaming surges shall withstand,
Insult their rage, and oar me safe to land.
Thus ev'ry night to thy embrace I'll fly,
Shiv'ring with cold, all pale and breathless lye,
And when full warm'd, with bliss dissolve, and die.
Justly you ask the country, whence I came;
Know then, Abydos is my neighb'ring home.
Ah! from thy turret let some friendly light
Chase the thick darkness, and direct my sight:
Thou the delicious land of love shalt be,
And I the ship, steer'd by that star to thee. ”

“ For when its flame expires, I breathe my last.
What more?———Leander is the name I bear,
And only to be thy Leander swear.
Thus did the youthful pair resolve to know
From mutual love what mighty pleasures flow;
Secret they fix'd the place, the time to meet;
(For sweetest joys, if stoll'n, are doubly sweet)
When ebbing darkness seem'd to bid adieu,
And both unwilling by constraint withdrew.
She to her tow'r fled swifter than the wind,
The careful lover wisely stay'd behind ”