On A Leander Which Miss Reynolds, My Kind Friend, Gave Me

Come hither, all sweet maidens soberly, Down-looking aye, and with a chasten’d light, Hid in the fringes of your eyelids white, And meekly let your fair hands joined be, As if so gentle that ye could not see, Untouch’d, a victim of your beauty bright, Sinking away to his young spirit’s night, Sinking bewilder’d ‘mid the dreary sea: ‘Tis young Leander toiling to his death; Nigh swooning, he doth purse his weary lips For Hero’s cheek, and smiles against her smile. O horrid dream! see how his body dips Dead-heavy; arms and shoulders gleam awhile: He’s gone; up bubbles all his amorous breath!