The Argument of the Fourth Sestyad. Hero, in sacred habit deck'd, Her scarf's description wrought by Fate. With lightning darted from her eyes: HERO AND LEANDER. THE FOURTH SESTYAD. Now from Leander's place she rose, and found Of her fair Goddess, and her powerful son, And in that holy sort she vow'd to end them; A crown of icicles, that sun nor fire And for her sake she ever since that time Choos'd doves to draw her coach through Heav'n's blue clime: Her plenteous hair in curled billows swims On her bright shoulder: her harmonious limbs That hung on them, as it durst not assail Nor did it cover, but adumbrate only All that all-love-deserving paradise: It was as blue as the most freezing skies; * beauteous, edit. 1637, a reading more consonant with the genius of Chapman; the adjective fair being, by a figure, taken for her fair limbs. Near the sea's hue, for thence her goddess came: Which figur'd the division of her mind, She wrought a sea in one flame full of ships: Her diving needle taught him how to swim, And to each thread did such resemblance give, Things senseless live by art, and rational die By rude contempt of art and industry. Scarce could she work but in her strength of thought, She fear'd she prick'd Leander as she wrought: |