Hero And Leander: The First Sestiad Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEFGGHHIIJJKKLL MMJNEEOOCCPPQQLLOORR SSTTUUVVWW XXUEYYLLZDA2B2C2C2PP C2C2NNLLLLPPD2E2C2C2 C2C2RRF2PLLG2G2 ZZC2C2G2H2C2C2C2C2C2 C2C2C2PF2I2I2F2PC2C2 LLPPRRC2C2PPLLJ2J2C2 C2C2C2RRPF2 PPC2C2XXLLLLRRC2C2C2 C2C2C2K2K2PPC2C2LLC2 C2C2C2XX C2C2PPC2C2LLC2C2 C2C2L2L2C2C2C2C2LLC2 C2PPC2C2LLC2C2PP LLPPM2M2XC2N2N2XXPPL LLLLLPPPPPPG2G2PPPPP PC2C2PPPPC2C2O2O2P2P 2LLPPXLPLLLPPLLLLC2C 2Q2R2G2C2LLLXLLG2G2C 2C2LLC2C2PPS2S2C2C2P PPPXLQ2Q2 XXLLC2LLG2G2PPXLLLLL LLT2T2P2P2LLPPP2P2LL LLC2C2 PPPPXXG2G2C2C2PP PPPPG2G2C2C2LLLLLXC2 C2C2C2C2C2LLC2C2U2U2 PPLLC2C2XLC2C2LLC2C2 LLU2U2XLC2C2C2C2LLLL C2C2C2C2C2C2C2LC2C2C 2C2C2C2PPLLXXPPXXC2C 2C2C2C2C2LLLLXXC2C2C 2C2P2P2LLPPXXLLLLP2P 2C2C2C2C2XXPPLLC2C2L LC2C2C2C2LLLLLLC2C2L LLLPPPPC2C2

On Hellespont guilty of true love's blood	A
In view and opposite two cities stood	B
Sea borderers disjoin'd by Neptune's might	C
The one Abydos the other Sestos hight	C
At Sestos Hero dwelt Hero the fair	D
Whom young Apollo courted for her hair	D
And offer'd as a dower his burning throne	E
Where she could sit for men to gaze upon	F
The outside of her garments were of lawn	G
The lining purple silk with gilt stars drawn	G
Her wide sleeves green and border'd with a grove	H
Where Venus in her naked glory strove	H
To please the careless and disdainful eyes	I
Of proud Adonis that before her lies	I
Her kirtle blue whereon was many a stain	J
Made with the blood of wretched lovers slain	J
Upon her head she ware a myrtle wreath	K
From whence her veil reach'd to the ground beneath	K
Her veil was artificial flowers and leaves	L
Whose workmanship both man and beast deceives	L
Many would praise the sweet smell as she past	M
When 'twas the odour which her breath forth cast	M
And there for honey bees have sought in vain	J
And beat from thence have lighted there again	N
About her neck hung chains of pebble stone	E
Which lighten'd by her neck like diamonds shone	E
She ware no gloves for neither sun nor wind	O
Would burn or parch her hands but to her mind	O
Or warm or cool them for they took delight	C
To play upon those hands they were so white	C
Buskins of shells all silver'd used she	P
And branch'd with blushing coral to the knee	P
Where sparrows perch'd of hollow pearl and gold	Q
Such as the world would wonder to behold	Q
Those with sweet water oft her handmaid fills	L
Which as she went would chirrup through the bills	L
Some say for her the fairest Cupid pin'd	O
And looking in her face was strooken blind	O
But this is true so like was one the other	R
As he imagin'd Hero was his mother	R
And oftentimes into her bosom flew	S
About her naked neck his bare arms threw	S
And laid his childish head upon her breast	T
And with still panting rock'd there took his rest	T
So lovely fair was Hero Venus' nun	U
As Nature wept thinking she was undone	U
Because she took more from her than she left	V
And of such wondrous beauty her bereft	V
Therefore in sign her treasure suffer'd wrack	W
Since Hero's time hath half the world been black	W
	-
Amorous Leander beautiful and young	X
Whose tragedy divine Mus us sung	X
Dwelt at Abydos since him dwelt there none	U
For whom succeeding times make greater moan	E
His dangling tresses that were never shorn	Y
Had they been cut and unto Colchos borne	Y
Would have allur'd the vent'rous youth of Greece	L
To hazard more than for the golden fleece	L
Fair Cynthia wish'd his arms might be her sphere	Z
Grief makes her pale because she moves not there	D
His body was as straight as Circe's wand	A2
Jove might have sipt out nectar from his hand	B2
Even as delicious meat is to the taste	C2
So was his neck in touching and surpast	C2
The white of Pelops' shoulder I could tell ye	P
How smooth his breast was and how white his belly	P
And whose immortal fingers did imprint	C2
That heavenly path with many a curious dint	C2
That runs along his back but my rude pen	N
Can hardly blazon forth the loves of men	N
Much less of powerful gods let it suffice	L
That my slack Muse sings of Leander's eyes	L
Those orient cheeks and lips exceeding his	L
That leapt into the water for a kiss	L
Of his own shadow and despising many	P
Died ere he could enjoy the love of any	P
Had wild Hippolytus Leander seen	D2
Enamour'd of his beauty had he been	E2
His presence made the rudest peasant melt	C2
That in the vast uplandish country dwelt	C2
The barbarous Thracian soldier mov'd with nought	C2
Was mov'd with him and for his favour sought	C2
Some swore he was a maid in man's attire	R
For in his looks were all that men desire	R
A pleasant smiling cheek a speaking eye	F2
A brow for love to banquet royally	P
And such as knew he was a man would say	L
Leander thou art made for amorous play	L
Why art thou not in love and lov'd of all	G2
Though thou be fair yet be not thine own thrall	G2
	-
The men of wealthy Sestos every year	Z
For his sake whom their goddess held so dear	Z
Rose cheek'd Adonis kept a solemn feast	C2
Thither resorted many a wandering guest	C2
To meet their loves such as had none at all	G2
Came lovers home from this great festival	H2
For every street like to a firmament	C2
Glister'd with breathing stars who where they went	C2
Frighted the melancholy earth which deem'd	C2
Eternal heaven to burn for so it seem'd	C2
As if another Pha e ton had got	C2
The guidance of the sun's rich chariot	C2
But far above the loveliest Hero shin'd	C2
And stole away th' enchanted gazer's mind	C2
For like sea nymphs' inveigling harmony	P
So was her beauty to the standers by	F2
Nor that night wandering pale and watery star	I2
When yawning dragons draw her thirling car	I2
From Latmus' mount up to the gloomy sky	F2
Where crown'd with blazing light and majesty	P
She proudly sits more over rules the flood	C2
Than she the hearts of those that near her stood	C2
Even as when gaudy nymphs pursue the chase	L
Wretched Ixion's shaggy footed race	L
Incens'd with savage heat gallop amain	P
From steep pine bearing mountains to the plain	P
So ran the people forth to gaze upon her	R
And all that view'd her were enamour'd on her	R
And as in fury of a dreadful fight	C2
Their fellows being slain or put to flight	C2
Poor soldiers stand with fear of death dead strooken	P
So at her presence all surpris'd and tooken	P
Await the sentence of her scornful eyes	L
He whom she favours lives the other dies	L
There might you see one sigh another rage	J2
And some their violent passions to assuage	J2
Compile sharp satires but alas too late	C2
For faithful love will never turn to hate	C2
And many seeing great princes were denied	C2
Pin'd as they went and thinking on her died	C2
On this feast day O cursed day and hour	R
Went Hero thorough Sestos from her tower	R
To Venus' temple where unhappily	P
As after chanc'd they did each other spy	F2
	-
So fair a church as this had Venus none	P
The walls were of discolour'd jasper stone	P
Wherein was Proteus carved and over head	C2
A lively vine of green sea agate spread	C2
Where by one hand light headed Bacchus hung	X
And with the other wine from grapes out wrung	X
Of crystal shining fair the pavement was	L
The town of Sestos call'd it Venus' glass	L
There might you see the gods in sundry shapes	L
Committing heady riots incest rapes	L
For know that underneath this radiant flower	R
Was Danae's statue in a brazen tower	R
Jove slyly stealing from his sister's bed	C2
To dally with Idalian Ganimed	C2
And for his love Europa bellowing loud	C2
And tumbling with the rainbow in a cloud	C2
Blood quaffing Mars heaving the iron net	C2
Which limping Vulcan and his Cyclops set	C2
Love kindling fire to burn such towns as Troy	K2
Sylvanus weeping for the lovely boy	K2
That now is turn'd into a cypress tree	P
Under whose shade the wood gods love to be	P
And in the midst a silver altar stood	C2
There Hero sacrificing turtles' blood	C2
Vail'd to the ground veiling her eyelids close	L
And modestly they opened as she rose	L
Thence flew Love's arrow with the golden head	C2
And thus Leander was enamoured	C2
Stone still he stood and evermore he gazed	C2
Till with the fire that from his count'nance blazed	C2
Relenting Hero's gentle heart was strook	X
Such force and virtue hath an amorous look	X
	-
It lies not in our power to love or hate	C2
For will in us is over rul'd by fate	C2
When two are stript long ere the course begin	P
We wish that one should lose the other win	P
And one especially do we affect	C2
Of two gold ingots like in each respect	C2
The reason no man knows let it suffice	L
What we behold is censur'd by our eyes	L
Where both deliberate the love is slight	C2
Who ever lov'd that lov'd not at first sight	C2
	-
He kneeled but unto her devoutly prayed	C2
Chaste Hero to herself thus softly said	C2
Were I the saint he worships I would hear him	L2
And as she spake those words came somewhat near him	L2
He started up she blushed as one ashamed	C2
Wherewith Leander much more was inflamed	C2
He touched her hand in touching it she trembled	C2
Love deeply grounded hardly is dissembled	C2
These lovers parleyed by the touch of hands	L
True love is mute and oft amazed stands	L
Thus while dumb signs their yielding hearts entangled	C2
The air with sparks of living fire was spangled	C2
And night deep drenched in misty Acheron	P
Heaved up her head and half the world upon	P
Breathed darkness forth dark night is Cupid's day	C2
And now begins Leander to display	C2
Love's holy fire with words with sighs and tears	L
Which like sweet music entered Hero's ears	L
And yet at every word she turned aside	C2
And always cut him off as he replied	C2
At last like to a bold sharp sophister	P
With cheerful hope thus he accosted her	P
	-
Fair creature let me speak without offence	L
I would my rude words had the influence	L
To lead thy thoughts as thy fair looks do mine	P
Then shouldst thou be his prisoner who is thine	P
Be not unkind and fair misshapen stuff	M2
Are of behaviour boisterous and rough	M2
O shun me not but hear me ere you go	X
God knows I cannot force love as you do	C2
My words shall be as spotless as my youth	N2
Full of simplicity and naked truth	N2
This sacrifice whose sweet perfume descending	X
From Venus' altar to your footsteps bending	X
Doth testify that you exceed her far	P
To whom you offer and whose nun you are	P
Why should you worship her Her you surpass	L
As much as sparkling diamonds flaring glass	L
A diamond set in lead his worth retains	L
A heavenly nymph beloved of human swains	L
Receives no blemish but ofttimes more grace	L
Which makes me hope although I am but base	L
Base in respect of thee divine and pure	P
Dutiful service may thy love procure	P
And I in duty will excel all other	P
As thou in beauty dost exceed Love's mother	P
Nor heaven nor thou were made to gaze upon	P
As heaven preserves all things so save thou one	P
A stately builded ship well rigged and tall	G2
The ocean maketh more majestical	G2
Why vowest thou then to live in Sestos here	P
Who on Love's seas more glorious wouldst appear	P
Like untuned golden strings all women are	P
Which long time lie untouched will harshly jar	P
Vessels of brass oft handled brightly shine	P
What difference betwixt the richest mine	P
And basest mould but use For both not used	C2
Are of like worth Then treasure is abused	C2
When misers keep it being put to loan	P
In time it will return us two for one	P
Rich robes themselves and others do adorn	P
Neither themselves nor others if not worn	P
Who builds a palace and rams up the gate	C2
Shall see it ruinous and desolate	C2
Ah simple Hero learn thyself to cherish	O2
Lone women like to empty houses perish	O2
Less sins the poor rich man that starves himself	P2
In heaping up a mass of drossy pelf	P2
Than such as you His golden earth remains	L
Which after his decease some other gains	L
But this fair gem sweet in the loss alone	P
When you fleet hence can be bequeathed to none	P
Or if it could down from th'enameled sky	X
All heaven would come to claim this legacy	L
And with intestine broils the world destroy	P
And quite confound nature's sweet harmony	L
Well therefore by the gods decreed it is	L
We human creatures should enjoy that bliss	L
One is no number maids are nothing then	P
Without the sweet society of men	P
Wilt thou live single still One shalt thou be	L
Though never singling Hymen couple thee	L
Wild savages that drink of running springs	L
Think water far excels all earthly things	L
But they that daily taste neat wine despise it	C2
Virginity albeit some highly prize it	C2
Compared with marriage had you tried them both	Q2
Differs as much as wine and water doth	R2
Base bullion for the stamp's sake we allow	G2
Even so for men's impression do we you	C2
By which alone our reverend fathers say	L
Women receive perfection every way	L
This idol which you term virginity	L
Is neither essence subject to the eye	X
No nor to any one exterior sense	L
Nor hath it any place of residence	L
Nor is't of earth or mould celestial	G2
Or capable of any form at all	G2
Of that which hath no being do not boast	C2
Things that are not at all are never lost	C2
Men foolishly do call it virtuous	L
What virtue is it that is born with us	L
Much less can honour be ascribed thereto	C2
Honour is purchased by the deeds we do	C2
Believe me Hero honour is not won	P
Until some honourable deed be done	P
Seek you for chastity immortal fame	S2
And know that some have wronged Diana's name	S2
Whose name is it if she be false or not	C2
So she be fair but some vile tongues will blot	C2
But you are fair ay me so wondrous fair	P
So young so gentle and so debonair	P
As Greece will think if thus you live alone	P
Some one or other keeps you as his own	P
Then Hero hate me not nor from me fly	X
To follow swiftly blasting infamy	L
Perhaps thy sacred priesthood makes thee loath	Q2
Tell me to whom mad'st thou that heedless oath	Q2
	-
To Venus answered she and as she spake	X
Forth from those two tralucent cisterns brake	X
A stream of liquid pearl which down her face	L
Made milk white paths whereon the gods might trace	L
To Jove's high court	C2
He thus replied The rites	L
In which love's beauteous empress most delights	L
Are banquets Doric music midnight revel	G2
Plays masks and all that stern age counteth evil	G2
Thee as a holy idiot doth she scorn	P
For thou in vowing chastity hast sworn	P
To rob her name and honour and thereby	X
Committ'st a sin far worse than perjury	L
Even sacrilege against her deity	L
Through regular and formal purity	L
To expiate which sin kiss and shake hands	L
Such sacrifice as this Venus demands	L
	-
Thereat she smiled and did deny him so	L
As put thereby yet might he hope for moe	L
Which makes him quickly re enforce his speech	T2
And her in humble manner thus beseech	T2
Though neither gods nor men may thee deserve	P2
Yet for her sake whom you have vowed to serve	P2
Abandon fruitless cold virginity	L
The gentle queen of love's sole enemy	L
Then shall you most resemble Venus' nun	P
When Venus' sweet rites are performed and done	P
Flint breasted Pallas joys in single life	P2
But Pallas and your mistress are at strife	P2
Love Hero then and be not tyrannous	L
But heal the heart that thou hast wounded thus	L
Nor stain thy youthful years with avarice	L
Fair fools delight to be accounted nice	L
The richest corn dies if it be not reaped	C2
Beauty alone is lost too warily kept	C2
	-
These arguments he used and many more	P
Wherewith she yielded that was won before	P
Hero's looks yielded but her words made war	P
Women are won when they begin to jar	P
Thus having swallowed Cupid's golden hook	X
The more she strived the deeper was she strook	X
Yet evilly feigning anger strove she still	G2
And would be thought to grant against her will	G2
So having paused a while at last she said	C2
Who taught thee rhetoric to deceive a maid	C2
Ay me such words as these should I abhor	P
And yet I like them for the orator	P
	-
With that Leander stooped to have embraced her	P
But from his spreading arms away she cast her	P
And thus bespake him Gentle youth forbear	P
To touch the sacred garments which I wear	P
Upon a rock and underneath a hill	G2
Far from the town where all is whist and still	G2
Save that the sea playing on yellow sand	C2
Sends forth a rattling murmur to the land	C2
Whose sound allures the golden Morpheus	L
In silence of the night to visit us	L
My turret stands and there God knows I play	L
With Venus' swans and sparrows all the day	L
A dwarfish beldam bears me company	L
That hops about the chamber where I lie	X
And spends the night that might be better spent	C2
In vain discourse and apish merriment	C2
Come thither As she spake this her tongue tripped	C2
For unawares come thither from her slipped	C2
And suddenly her former colour changed	C2
And here and there her eyes through anger ranged	C2
And like a planet moving several ways	L
At one self instant she poor soul assays	L
Loving not to love at all and every part	C2
Strove to resist the motions of her heart	C2
And hands so pure so innocent nay such	U2
As might have made heaven stoop to have a touch	U2
Did she uphold to Venus and again	P
Vowed spotless chastity but all in vain	P
Cupid beats down her prayers with his wings	L
Her vows above the empty air he flings	L
All deep enraged his sinewy bow he bent	C2
And shot a shaft that burning from him went	C2
Wherewith she strooken looked so dolefully	X
As made love sigh to see his tyranny	L
And as she wept her tears to pearl he turned	C2
And wound them on his arm and for her mourned	C2
Then towards the palace of the destinies	L
Laden with languishment and grief he flies	L
And to those stern nymphs humbly made request	C2
Both might enjoy each other and be blest	C2
But with a ghastly dreadful countenance	L
Threatening a thousand deaths at every glance	L
They answered Love nor would vouchsafe so much	U2
As one poor word their hate to him was such	U2
Hearken a while and I will tell you why	X
Heaven's winged herald Jove borne Mercury	L
The selfsame day that he asleep had laid	C2
Enchanted Argus spied a country maid	C2
Whose careless hair instead of pearl t'adorn it	C2
Glistered with dew as one that seemed to scorn it	C2
Her breath as fragrant as the morning rose	L
Her mind pure and her tongue untaught to gloze	L
Yet proud she was for lofty pride that dwells	L
In towered courts is oft in shepherds' cells	L
And too too well the fair vermilion knew	C2
And silver tincture of her cheeks that drew	C2
The love of every swain On her this god	C2
Enamoured was and with his snaky rod	C2
Did charm her nimble feet and made her stay	C2
The while upon a hillock down he lay	C2
And sweetly on his pipe began to play	C2
And with smooth speech her fancy to assay	L
Till in his twining arms he locked her fast	C2
And then he wooed with kisses and at last	C2
As shepherds do her on the ground he laid	C2
And tumbling in the grass he often strayed	C2
Beyond the bounds of shame in being bold	C2
To eye those parts which no eye should behold	C2
And like an insolent commanding lover	P
Boasting his parentage would needs discover	P
The way to new Elysium but she	L
Whose only dower was her chastity	L
Having striv'n in vain was now about to cry	X
And crave the help of shepherds that were nigh	X
Herewith he stayed his fury and began	P
To give her leave to rise Away she ran	P
After went Mercury who used such cunning	X
As she to hear his tale left off her running	X
Maids are not won by brutish force and might	C2
But speeches full of pleasure and delight	C2
And knowing Hermes courted her was glad	C2
That she such loveliness and beauty had	C2
As could provoke his liking yet was mute	C2
And neither would deny nor grant his suit	C2
Still vowed he love She wanting no excuse	L
To feed him with delays as women use	L
Or thirsting after immortality	L
All women are ambitious naturally	L
Imposed upon her lover such a task	X
As he ought not perform nor yet she ask	X
A draught of flowing nectar she requested	C2
Wherewith the king of gods and men is feasted	C2
He ready to accomplish what she willed	C2
Stole some from Hebe Hebe Jove's cup filled	C2
And gave it to his simple rustic love	P2
Which being known as what is hid from Jove	P2
He inly stormed and waxed more furious	L
Than for the fire filched by Prometheus	L
And thrusts him down from heaven He wandering here	P
In mournful terms with sad and heavy cheer	P
Complained to Cupid Cupid for his sake	X
To be revenged on Jove did undertake	X
And those on whom heaven earth and hell relies	L
I mean the adamantine Destinies	L
He wounds with love and forced them equally	L
To dote upon deceitful Mercury	L
They offered him the deadly fatal knife	P2
That shears the slender threads of human life	P2
At his fair feathered feet the engines laid	C2
Which th' earth from ugly Chaos' den upweighed	C2
These he regarded not but did entreat	C2
That Jove usurper of his father's seat	C2
Might presently be banished into hell	X
And aged Saturn in Olympus dwell	X
They granted what he craved and once again	P
Saturn and Ops began their golden reign	P
Murder rape war lust and treachery	L
Were with Jove closed in Stygian empery	L
But long this blessed time continued not	C2
As soon as he his wished purpose got	C2
He reckless of his promise did despise	L
The love of th' everlasting Destinies	L
They seeing it both love and him abhorred	C2
And Jupiter unto his place restored	C2
And but that Learning in despite of Fate	C2
Will mount aloft and enter heaven gate	C2
And to the seat of Jove itself advance	L
Hermes had slept in hell with Ignorance	L
Yet as a punishment they added this	L
That he and Poverty should always kiss	L
And to this day is every scholar poor	L
Gross gold from them runs headlong to the boor	L
Likewise the angry Sisters thus deluded	C2
To venge themselves on Hermes have concluded	C2
That Midas' brood shall sit in honour's chair	L
To which the Muses' sons are only heir	L
And fruitful wits that in aspiring are	L
Shall discontent run into regions far	L
And few great lords in virtuous deeds shall joy	P
But be surprised with every garish toy	P
And still enrich the lofty servile clown	P
Who with encroaching guile keeps learning down	P
Then Muse not Cupid's suit no better sped	C2
Seeing in their loves the Fates were injured	C2

Christopher Marlowe

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