Ovid's heroical epistles Englished by W.S.

[illustration]

The A••gument of the sev••nte••nth Epistle.

THe Sea of Hellespont being seven furlongs over, and as Pli••y wit∣nesseth dividing Europe from Asia, had on the one side Sectos in Eu∣rope where Hero lived, and Abydo•• in Asia where L••and••r dwelled, being two opposite Cities. Leander of Ab••do•• being deeply in love with Hero of Se••tos, did use to swim by night unto her over the Helle∣spont▪ but being hindred by the tempestuous roughnesse of the Sea,

after seven dayes were past, he sent this Letter to his sweet heart Hero, by an adventerous ship mast••r that put ••ort•• to Sea in the storm Wherein he sheweth first that his love is firm, and constant. Af∣terward he complaineth that the roughnesse of the Sea should hinder him from swiming to her. Lastly, he promiseth her that he will ••••••t••re to come, and expose himself to the dangers of the Sea. rather than to want the sight of her, or h•••• sweet company. Whence M••rtial thus of him signifieth.

C••m 〈…〉〈…〉 a••da•• Leander amore••, Et fissus tumidujam premeretur aqui••; Sie miser Instantes affatus dicitar ••ndas; Parcite dum propero, m••rg••••e dum recto.

While bo•••• Leander to his Sweet heart 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ And swelling waves did beat his weary limbs. To the billowes that beats him so, 'Tis said that thus he ••pake; Spare me while I to Hero go, Drown me where I come back.

LEANDER to HERO

THy love Leander wisheth thee all hea••th, (Hero) which I had rather being my self▪ For if the rough Seas had more calmer been, From Abydos to Sestos I would swim. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fates smile upon our love then, I Do know, thou wilt read my lines willingly. This paper-messenger may welcome be, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou had'st rather have my company. But the fates frown, and will not suffer me, (As I was us'd) to swim unto thee. The skie is black, the seas are rough, alas, ••o that no ship or Barke from home dare passe. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one bold Ship-master went from our Haven▪ To whom this present Letter I have given.

And had come with him, but the ••••ydi••us stay'd Upon their watch-towers, while the Anchor way'd▪ For presently they would have me descri'd, And discern'd our love, which we seek to hide. Forth with this Letter I did write, and so I said unto it, happy Letter go; This is thy happiness, thou must understand, That H••ro shall receive thee with her hand. And perhaps thou shalt kisse her rosy lips, While with her teeth the Seal she open rips. Having spoken these words, then my right hand after Did write these words upon this silent Paper. But I do wish, that my right hand might be Not us'd in writing, but to swim to thee: It is more fit to swim yet I can write My mind with ease and happily indite, Seven nights are past which seem to me a year Since first the Seas with stormes inraged were. These nights seem'd long to me, I could not sleep, To think the Sea should stil his roughnesse keep. Those Torches which on thy Tower burning be I saw, or else I thought that I did see. Thric••e I put off my cloaths, and did begin Three times to make tryal if I could swim. But swelling seas did my desire oppose, Whose rising billowes o're my face o'rt flowes. But Bor••as, who art the fiercest wind, Why thus to crosse me, do••st thou bend thy mind? Thou dost not storm against the Seas but me. Hadst thou not been in love what woulst thou be? Though thou art cold, ye•• once thou d••d'st approve Ori••••••, who did warm thy heart with love. And would'st ••ave vexed, if with Orithya fair Thy passage had been hindred through the air.

O spare me then, and calm thy blustring wind, Even so may••t thou from Aro••us favour find. But I perceive he murmers at my prayer, And still the seas are rough and stormy are, I wish that Daedalus would give w••ngs to m•• Th••ough the Icar••••n seas not far off be, Where Icaru•• did fall when he did proffer To fly too high, let me the same chance suffer While flying hrough the air to thee I come, As through the wa••er I have often swom. But since both wind, and seas deny to me My passage, think how I fi••••t came to thee. It was at ••hat time when night doth begin, (Th' remembrance of past pleasures, pleasure bring) When I who was Amans, which we translate A Lover stole out of my Fathers Gate, And having put off all my cloaths straightway, My arms through the moi•••• seas cut their way, The Moon did yeild a glimmering light to me, Which all the way did bear me company. I looking on her, said, some ••avour have Towards me, and think upon the Latmian Cave. O favour me! for thy End••m••••ns sake, Prosper this stollen journey which I take. A mortals love made thee come from thy Spheare, And she I love is like a goddess fair. For none unlesse that she a goddess be, Can be so vertuous, and so fair as she. Nay none but Venus, or thy self can be So fair, view her, if you'l not credit me: For as thy silver beams do shin more br••ght Than lesser streams, which yeild a dimmer light: Even so of all fair ones she is rarest, And Cynthia cannot doubt but she's the fairest.

When I th••se words, or else the like had said, My passage through the Sea by night I made. The Moon•• bright beams were in t••e water seen, And 'twas as light as if it day had been. No noise nor voice unto my ears did come, But the murmur•• of the water when I swom. Only the A••cyons for lov'd ••eyx sake, Seemed by night a sweet complaint to make. But when my Arms to grow tyr'd did Begin Vnto the top of the waves I did spring. But when I saw thy Torch O then quoth I, Where that fire blazeth, my fair love doth lye. For that same shore, said I, doth her contain, Who is my goddesse, my fire and my flame. These words to my Arms did such strength restore, Me thought the Sea grew ca••mer then before▪ The coldnesse of the waves, I seem'd to scorn, For love did keep my amorous heart still warm. The neerer I came to the shore, I find The greater courage and mo••e strength of mind. But when I could by thee discern'd be, Thou gav'st me courage by looking on me. T••en to please thee, my Mistriss I begin To spread my arms abroad, and strongly swim. Thy Nurse from leap••ng down could scarce stay thee▪ This without flattery I did also see, And though she did restrain thee, thou didst come Down to the sho••e and to the wav••s didst run. And to imbrace and kisse me didst begin, "••he gods to get such kisses sure would swim. And thy own garments thou wouldst put on me, Drying my hair which had been wet at Sea. What past besides, the Tower, and we do know. And Torch, which through the sea my way did show.

The joyes of that night we no more can count Then d••ops of water in the Hellespont. And because we had so little time for pleasure, We us'd our time, and did not wast our leasure. But when Aurora rose from Ti••bons bed, And the morning star shew'd his glistering head, Th••n we did kisse in hast, and kisse again, And that the night was past we did complain. When thy Nurse did me of the ••ime in••o••m, Then from thy Tower, I to the shore return. With tears we parted, and then I beg'n, Back through the Hellespont again to ••wim. And while I swom, I shou••d look back on thee, As far as I could the (sweet Hero) see. And if you will believe me, when I do come Hither unto thee, then me thought I swom. But when from thee again I return••d back, I seem'd like one that had suffer'd ship wrack, To my home I went unwillingly again, My City 'gainst my will doth me contain. Alas! why should we be by seas disjoyn'd? Since that love hath united us in mind Since we bear such affection to each other, Why should not we in one land dwell together? In Sest••s, or Abydos dwell with me, T••y countrey pleaseth mee, as mine doth thee. VVhy should the rough seas thus perplex our minds? VVhy should we be parted by cruel winds? The Dolphins with our love acquainted grow. The fish by often swiming doth me know. And through the water I have worn a path, Like to those wheel-ruts which a high way hath, I complain that I to such shifts was put. But now the winds that passage have up shut.

The Hellespont is rough, the waves go high. So that ships scarce in Ha••bour safe do lye. And I believe the sea her name fi••st found From the Virgin Helle, who was in't drown'd. This sea shall by her death infamous be, Her name do••h shew her guilt, though she spare me▪ I envy Iason, who did saile to Gre••c••, And fetch away from thence the golden Fleece. In his ship call'd the Ram, yet I desire No ship of his, this is all I require; That the waters of the Hellespont would be So gentle to permit me swim to thee. I want no art to swim, give leave to me. And both the ship and Pilot I will be. I will not sail by the great or lesser beare, For by such common stars love cannot steare. Let o••hers on Andromedes star look, Or ••adnes Crown to Heaven took; Nor yet Calist•••• stars which do shine e'ear In the Polar Circle, which they call the Beare. These stars wh••c•• by the gods were stellifi••d, In my doubtfull passage shall not be my g••ide But I have a more brighter star than thes••, My love wil guid me through the darkest seas, Oft when my arms g••ew tyr'd with weariness, That they cannot cut their wayes t••rough the se••s, When I do tell them, that to quit their pain, They should imbrace hee, they would then again, To enjoy their prize, with such a fresh strength swim, Like a swift Horse that doth to ru•• begin. Thou art my star and I will folow thee, Rather then all those stars in Heaven be. Thou, thou art far more worthy for to shine A star in Heaven, yet stay on ear••h thy time.

Or if thou wilt needs go, then shew to me The way to Heaven, that I may follow thee, Thou a••t here yet I the way to thee can't find, The roughness of the seas perplex my mind. What though the Ocean do not us two par••? This narrow Sea keeps me from thee sweet-heart. If I should in some distant Countrey be, It would cut off all hope of seeing thee. But now I am inflam'd with more desire, And burn the more the nearer to the fire. And though the thing I wish for absent be, yet I do ••ope for that I cannot see. That which I love I almost seem to touch, Which makes me weep to think my hopes are such, I catch at Apples which from me do fl•• Like ••ant••lus; or the stream which glides by. Shall I then n••ve•• be possest of thee, Untill the winds and sea so pleased be? When wind and water fickle be, shall I Upon the vvind and water still relie? Shall I be hindred by the raging seas? The Goats, Boote, or the Plejades? If I have any courage, thou shalt see, Love shall embolden me to swim to thee▪ And if I promise, I will come awa••, And perform promise wit••out all delay. If seas continue still their raging anger, I'le try to swim to thee in despight of danger; Either my bold attempt shall ••appy prove, Or death shall give an end unto my love. Yet do I wish my bo••y may be driven, Like to a wrack to thy beloved haven. Then thou wilt weep on it, and say 'was I Was the occasion, that this man did dye

I know when thou hast in my L••tter sound This word of death, thou wilt hate the sad sound. Fear not; but that the sea may now inclin•• To calmnesse, joyn your prayers I pray with mine. If it were calm untill I did swim thither, Arriv'd again let it be blustring weather, In the Ha••bour of thy Castle I'le abide, And in thy chamber at safe Anchor ride. Let blustring Bo••••as strongly there inclose me, I delight ••o stay there though he oppose me. For then I will be woa••y, and most slack To venture to return, or to swim back. On the deaf billowes i'le not rail in vain, Nor on the rough and raging sea complain. The winds and thy embraces should keep me Wind-bound, and love-bound, still to stay with thee. Yet soon as the sea permits i'le begin To use my armes, and unto thee i'le swim. And ••e thou carefull to put sorth a light Vpon thy turrer, to direct my sight. Vntill then let my Letter lodge this night With thee, as Ha••binger of my delight. Which though it go before me, I do pray, That I may ••ollo•• it without delay.