ADVERTISEMENT. THIS celebrated poem on the loves of Hero and Leander has been admired by the politest scholars for many ages: and though Mr. Waller and several other writers of the finest taste have conjectured it to be one of the stories, Which old Musæus so divinely sung : yet many convincing arguments might be brought to prove it to have been the work of a later author, a grammarian of that name who lived in the fifth century. Nor let the English reader look upon the title of grammarian as a term of reproach, though now frequently used as such. The profession, styled by the ancients Teaμarın, was the same with the belles lettres among the moderns: and the appellation of grammarian was particularly applied to those who excelled in every kind of polite writing. The first English translation of the following poem appeared in the year 1647, by sir Robert Stapylton. It has since that time been frequently attempted; but with what success is left to the judgment of others. THE LOVES OF HERO AND LEANDER. TRANSLATED BY FAWKES. 10 To share those joys which mutual faith hath seal'd, 20 30 23. Against Abydos sea-beat Sestos stood] Abydos was a city of Asia, situated on the Hellespont, over-against Sestos, a city in the Thracian Chersonnesus. Geographers are of opinion, that the castles of the Dardanelles were built on the ruins of these two places: but they are manifestly mistaken; for there are no remains of antiquity to be seen near those castles, but very remarkable ones three miles farther, where the channel is considerably narrower, Le Brun assures us, that the Their forms divine a bright resemblance bore, 50 Fair Hero, priestess to th' Idalian queen, Of birth illustrious, as of graceful mien, Dwelt on a high sequester'd tower, that stood Firm on the ramparts, and o'erlook'd the flood: Chaste, and unconscious of loye's pleasing pain, She seem'd a new-born Venus of the main ; But, nice of conduct, prudently withdrew Far from the follies of the female crew: Blest in retreat, she shunn'd the vain delight Of daily visits, and the dance at night, Content in sweet tranquillity to screen Her blooming beauty from malignant spleen; For where superior beauty shines confest, It kindles envy in each female breast. To soften Venus oft with prayer she strove, Oft pour'd libations to the god of love; Taught by th' example of the heavenly dame, To dread those arrows that were tipp'd with flame. 60 Vain all her caution, fruitless prov'd her prayer; Love gains an easy conquest o'er the fair. strait at these ruins is only half a mile over, and that one of them is still called Sestos, and the other Abydos or Avido. Pliny and Herodotus say, the narrowest part of the channel is about seven stadia, or furlongs. 60. To dread, &c.] In the first idyllium of Moschus, Venus complains of Cupid, that His darts and his arrows are all tipp'd with flame. |