An Excellent Sonnet of the Unfortunate LOVES, of Hero and Leander. Tune of, Gerard's mistress. Hero HOw fares My fair Leander, O vouchsafe to speak, lest my heart break, I banished am from thy sweet company, 'tis not Thy Father's anger can abase my love, I still will prove Thy faithful friend until such time I Dye, Though Fate And Fortune doth conspire, to interrupt our love In spite of fate and fortunes hate, I still will constant prove, And though Our angry friends in malice, now our body's parts Nor friends nor foes, nor scars nor blows, shall separate our hearts. Leander. What voice Is this that calls Leander from her Bower, from yonder Tower, The echo of this voice doth sure proceed, Hero. Leander. 'tis thy Hero fain would come to thee, if it might be, Thy absence makes my tender heart to bleed, but oh This pleasant river Hellisponce, which is the people's wonder Those waves so high doth injury, by parting us asunder. And though There's Ferry men good store yet none will stand my friend, To waft me o●re to that fair shore, where all my grief shall end. Leander. Hero, Though I am thy constant Lover still and ever will, My angry Father is thy Enemy, He still Doth strive to keep's asunder now and then, poor Ferry men They dare not waft thee over lest they die, Nor yet Dare they convey me unto my dear ●ero now My Father's rage will not asuage, nor will the same allow, Be patient Then dear Hero now as I am true to thee, Even so I trust thou art as just, and faithful unto me. Hero. Is there No way to stay an angry Father's wrath, whose fury hath Bereaved his child of comfort and content, Leander. O no, Dear Hero there's no way that I do know, to ease my Woe, My days of joy and comfort now is spent, You may, As well go fame a Lion in the Wilderness, As to persuade my Father's aid, to help me in distress, His anger And his River hath kept us asunder long, He hath his will, his humour still, and we have all the wrong. Hero. 'tIs not Thy Father's anger, nor this River deep, the which shall keep, Me from the embracements of my dearest friend For through This silver stream, my way I mean to take, even for thy sake, For thy dear sake my dearest life I'll spend, Though waves And winds should both conspire, mine enemies to be, My love's so strong, I fear no wrong can happen unto me: O meet Me in thy Garden, where this pleasant River glides, Lend me thy hand, draw me to Land, what ever me betides. Now must I make my tender slender arms my Oars, help watery power, Yea little Fishes teach me how to swim, And all Ye sea-nymphs guard me unto yonder banks, I'll give you thanks Bear up my body, strengthen every limb, come Leander now prepare thy lovely arms for me, I come dear love, assist me love, I may so happy be, But oh! A mighty tempest rose, and he was drowned that Tide, In her fair sight, his heart's delight, and so with grief she died. But when Her aged Father these things understands, he wrings his hands, And tears his hoary hair from off his head, Society He shuns and doth forsake his meat, his grief's so great, And oft doth make the lowly ground his bed, O my Leander would that I had died to save thy life, Or that I had when I was sad, made thee brave Hero's wife, It was My trespass, and I do confess I wronged thee; Posterity shall know hereby, the fault lay all in me. But since The waves have cast his body on the Land, upon the sand, Pis Corpse shall buried be in solemn wise, One grave Shall serve them both, and one most stately tomb, she'll make him room, Although her corpse be breathless where she lies Ye Fathers Have a special care now, whatsoever you do, For those that parts true loyal hearts, themselves were never true. Though Fate And fortune cress poor Lovers, sometimes as we know, Pray understand, have you no hand even in their overthrow. H. Crouch. FINIS. Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright.