Page:Hero and Leander (Musaeus) translated by Laurence Eusden (1750).djvu/10

But thou, O goddess! listen to my pray'r;
If not thy Hero, give me such a fair.
Thus mourn'd some wounded youth, whilst others strove
In wild disorder to conceal their love:
But flames too fierce to hide at once possess'd,
And roul'd, and revell'd in Leander's breast.
He saw the nymph, and struck with strange delight,
Resolv'd on something far beyond a sight.
He bled, but would not keep his wound unknown,
And wish'd to live, but could not live alone.
Ungovern'd thoughts to rage improv'd desire,
And kindl'd in his eyes impetuous fire.
Beware, ye heedless youths, and fly apace;
No dart so piercing, as a beauteous face:
Nor winged deaths with half such swiftness fly,
As the loose glances from a sparkling eye.
The luscious poison our fond eyes convey
Down to th'unguarded heart, a trembling, helpless prey.