Page:Hero and Leander; a poem (IA heroleanderpoem00musa).pdf/32

 Thus the fond pair with mutual ardor steal Raptures, that never cloy; but short thy reign, Indulgent Queen of Beauty! short the hour, Which lights Leander o'er the conscious deep. Stern Winter, cloth'd with frost, in tresses hoar Steps palsy'd, through the main the busy storms Urge the vex'd whirlpools, to the centre driv'n They shake the throne of Neptune; pale with fear The mariner prophetic to the strand Worne by the surge has drag'd his willing bark, And flies the faithless deep; far other cares O'errule Leander's soul, Love boldly spurns Discretion's softer voice, the Tow'r displays Its evening-star accustom'd, light to joys, The lover ne'er can quit; in vain the wave Dashing the face of Heav'n forbids the youth To trust its madden'd horrors; cruel Torch, Thy beam malignant lights him to his fate.

Yet could not Hero, fear'd by Winter's frown, Waste a few solitary, tedious nights? Oh! call the Torch, for one short period call From its aërial office! Fate severe, Severer Love forbid; the flame, which erst Led to the shrine of rapture, points to death.