Classic Poem

Who so hath read Leanders loue,
which he to Ladie Hero bore,
And how he swamme through Aelles flood,
twixt Abydon and Sestus shore.
To gaine his game, to liue at lust,
to lay him in the Ladies lap,
Will rue his paines, and scarce exchange
his case to haue Leanders hap:
But happy I account his case,
for hauing past those narrow Seas,
He was assured to lodge aloft
with Hero in the towre of ease.
He neuer went but did enioy
his mistres, whom he did desire
He seldome swamme the foming floud,
but was assured to quench his fire
The torch it hung vpon the towre,
the lamp gaue light to shew the way:
He could not misse the darkesome night,
it shone as cleere as sunny day.
Thus happy was Leanders lot,
but most vnhappy mine estate:
For swimming wil not serue my turne
to bring me to my louing mate.
The flouds are frozen round about,
the snow is thick on euery side:
The raging Ocean runnes betwixt
my frend and me with cruel tide
The hilles be ouerwhelmde with hoare,
the countrey clad with mantels white,
Each tree attirde with flakes of yce,
is nothing els saue snow in fight.
The mighty Volgas stately streame,
in winter slipper as the glasse,
Abides no boate, how should I then
deuise a meane a way to passe?
And Suchan, that in summer time,
was easie to be ouergone:
With Boreas blast is bound as harde,
as any flint or marble stone.
Free passage Dwina doth deny,
whose streame is stopt and choakt with snow,
There is no way for any barge,
much lesse for any man to goe:
I cannot for my life repaire
to thee, to ease my present paine:
There is no passage to be had,
til summer slake the snow againe
Meane while yet maist thou make accompt
that I doe stil remember thee,
In Russia where I leade my life,
and long againe at home to be
No force shall cause me to forget
or lay the care of loue aside:
Time is the touchstone of good will;
wherby my meaning shalbe tride.
If I might haue conueid my lines
vnto thy hands, it would haue easde
My heauie heart of diuers doubts,
my message might my minde appeasde,
But (friend) endure this long delay,
my selfe wil come when time shal serue,
To tell thee newes, and how I fare:
meane while stand fast and do not swerue,
Presume that as I was thine owne,
euen so I doe continue still
I know hir not whose beautie shall remooue
or change my first good will
Thy face hath pierst my brest so farre,
thy graces este so many bee,
As if I would, I cannot choose
but loue, and make account of thee.