John Keats' Sonnet on Hero and Leander

Today, I am happy to present a sonnet that John Keats composed upon receiving a painting on the Hero and Leander myth from Mrs. John Hamilton Reynolds. I find the final couplet quite striking and sad with Leander's last amorous breath in bubbles escaping from the cold waters.

“On a Picture of Leander"

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.
’T is 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!”