APPENDIX.
Representing some more obvious Passages in Ovid relating to Hero, and Leander, which carry a resemblance to the foregoing Poem.
MUSÆUS allots only one Verse to Leander's Invocation of Boreas, which verse has been before criticiz'd, Ovid in his usual vein of Amplification treats us with the Address itself. The lines are beautiful.
At Tu de rapidis immansuetissime ventis,
Quid mecum certâ prælia mente geris?
In me, si nescis, Borea, non æquora, fævis.
Quid faceres, effet ni tibi notus Amor?
Tam gelidus cum sis, non te tamen, improbe, quondam
Ignibus Actæis incaluisse negas.
Gaudia rapturo si quis tibi claudere vellet
Aërios aditus, quo paterere modo?
Quid mecum certâ prælia mente geris?
In me, si nescis, Borea, non æquora, fævis.
Quid faceres, effet ni tibi notus Amor?
Tam gelidus cum sis, non te tamen, improbe, quondam
Ignibus Actæis incaluisse negas.
Gaudia rapturo si quis tibi claudere vellet
Aërios aditus, quo paterere modo?
The conduct of both the Poets merits attention. The conciseness of Musæus is well adapted to the situation of Leander, who was swimming—The more diffus'd stile of Ovid is equally fitted to Leander, while he continued on the Shore.
Άυτὸς ἔων ἐρέτης, ἀυτόστολος, ἀυτόματος νηῦς.
Musæus, V. 255.
Musæus, V. 255.
Idem
