That night he sailed back to Abydos in his father’s merchant ship. But when he returned home, he did not seem to be there at all. He had left his heart across the Hellespont with Hero.
The following evening, his father sailed away in his ship on a new journey, leaving Leander by the edge of the murmuring sea. The stars shone down and glittered on the waves - but one light shone brighter than the rest - the lamp that Hero lit from her window across the water. Leander stood upon a rock and fixed his eyes upon that light. “Oh Hero, Oh Hero!” he moaned, “Will the water part to let me walk across to you?”
But the sigh of the rising and falling waves whispered the reply - “No.” Nor did he have a boat. There was only one way to travel across the sea.
He stripped off his clothes, and shouting, “Love here I come,” dived in with a splash.
His strong arms propelled his smooth body swiftly across the water, as his head bobbed over the waves. It so happened that Poseidon, the sea god, looked up from the swirling depths, and caught sight of Leander pulling the water in the moonlight. The sea god saw the swimmer’s smooth skin and his flowing hair and was amazed by his beauty. He desired to know him better.
And placing his great seashell to his lips, Poseidon trumpeted out the command for the winds to blow and waves to wrap around the lone swimmer, and to drag him down to his palace. The storm came out of nowhere. Suddenly Leander was knocked this way and that by giant waves. He struggled and splashed, gulped in and spluttered out sea water, and prayed to Aphrodite to save him for the sake of Love. But he strove in vain, for down, down, he sank through the swirling waters until he found himself before the golden walls of Poseidon’s palace, surrounded by brightly coloured trees of coral. He heard the sweet music of the mermaids and was swimming with the haughty sea-horses. He felt utterly confused, and was not sure if he was drowned or breathing. The sea-horses led him through the palace’s gates of pearl to the emerald green throne of Poseidon. There the good-humoured sea god embraced him like an old friend, and asked if he had plunged down into the sea from Heaven like a shooting star.
“No, sir,” said Leander, “I am a mortal.”
“Then sit closer. Stay a while. Stay forever!” boomed Poseidon. “You outshine my immortal brothers with your beauty. You are as pretty - no prettier - than my pearly sea palace! You have arrived at your true home where you belong, far from the ugly world of common mortals.”
“But sir,” pleaded Leander, who was down on one knee, “ I swore to the woman I love that the waves of the sea would not keep me from her, even if I had to swim. I risked my mortal life for her love, and she is waiting for me. If I do not turn up tonight, she may die of heartbreak - and then the face of nature herself will be less lovely - for the life of Hero, my love, makes the world more beautiful.”
“Your words are as ingenious as your face is lovely,” said Poseiden. “It is a pity to let you go, but I shall, since your heart is faithful to this mortal woman - Hero you said her name was. She must be a sight worth seeing for you to turn away my gift of everlasting life and luxury. But before you go, at least take this trifle, a silver bracelet that I myself have worn. It will keep you safe forever from the sea, and whether you swim or sail, you shall never drown.”
A seahorse passed the gift to Leander, who departed with heartfelt thanks, before swimming on his way towards the light lit by Hero in the window of her tower. The flame danced and flickered in the breeze. Many times a gust of wind had almost put it out, but the faithful flame kept burning for Leander, until at last, he reached his love.
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