Page:Famous history of the two unfortunate lovers.pdf/22

 got two of his trusty servants to row him over in a little boat, in the night time, and being furnished with a ladder of ropes came safe under the window, and calling with a loud voice, Amorissa who waited on her mistress, soon heard him, and by his direction fastened the rope ladder to the beam of the window by which he entered. Hero, who was just awakened, trembled to see him there, by reason her father had promised if Leander should be taken, to deliver him up to Altemansor's brother to be punished, who was as cruel and as blood-thirsty as the other had been; so that after many kisses and embraces, Leander endeavoured to persuade Hero to make her escape with him to Abidos, but she refused it, so that in this private manner he often visited her; she setting in the dark of night a torch light in the window, to guide him to the tower. At length her father resolved to marry her within three days, though she had opposed it with her tears and prayers, to prevent a war and to atone for his brother’s death. This fatal decree possessed Hero with mortal fears; so that she seeing no hope but either to destroy herself or be forced into the arms of a man she hated for Leander’s proffered aid, in case of war, would not be accepted by her father, she consented the next night he should come with a small ship to fetch her and Amorissa with all her jewels and treasures into Greece; The overjoyed Leander went back to prepare a vessel, which he soon did, and caused it to be drawn in between two rocks lest his purpose might be discovered to the other shore, till it was evening, when himself being weary and lying down to slumber, he was suddenly awakened by a melodious song sung by two mermaids, who appeared dancing on the waves.