Page:Famous history of the two unfortunate lovers, Hero & Leander (2).pdf/14

14 ‘ who must beg leave to subscribe himself your ‘ entirely devoted.’ ‘ LEANDER.’

When the princess read this letter, she was transported with joy, and called Amorissa to con- sult 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, can- ‘ not, you may well imagine, but have reached tho ‘ ears of Hero, and created in her an esteem worthy ‘ of so deserving a person; but how you could ‘ conceive so great a passion as you expressed in ‘ your letter, upon so slight a view, I cannot hastily ‘ believo, sinco the greatest queen on earth would ‘ be proud of Leander’s courtship, and set a diadem ‘ on his head for love ; I think, if I mistake not, I ‘ owe my life, at least my liberty and honour, ‘ which is dearer to mo than both, to your valour, ‘ and, therefore, in gratitude return you my thanks, ‘ and cannot but declare, that it is just when I am ‘ an enemy to myself that I will be so to Leander. ‘ The rest I leave to the bearer, in whom you may ‘ repose any confidence, and so tako leave to ‘ subscribe myself yours in friendship and good ‘ wishes.’ ‘ HERO.’

And as she was riding by the side of a wood, she got information of such a person as she de- scribed having entered the said wood a few hours before. Amorissa immediately pursued the