(26 February 1564 - 30 May 1593 / Canterbury, England)

poet Christopher Marlowe
#221 on top 500 poets
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Hero and Leander

It lies not in our power to love or hate,
For will in us is over-rul'd by fate.
hen two are stript long ere the course begin,
We wish that one should lose, the other win;
And one especially do we affect
Of two gold ingots, like in each respect:
The reason no man knows; let it suffice,
What we behold is censur'd by our eyes.
Where both deliberate, the love is slight:
Who ever lov'd, that lov'd not at first sight.

Submitted: Friday, January 03, 2003
Edited: Monday, May 09, 2011


Read poems about / on: respect, hate, fate, power, hero, love, lost

Comments about this poem (Hero and Leander by Christopher Marlowe )

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  • David Aoloch Bion (1/21/2013 8:40:00 AM)

    That what every lover has in mind but not know until he experience like i DID TODAY

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Shahzia Batool (1/21/2013 3:34:00 AM)

    Critics called this work as worthy enough to be credited as Marlowe's master-piece! ! !
    Where both deliberate, the love is slight:
    Who ever lov'd, that lov'd not at first sight.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Kevin Straw (1/21/2010 5:47:00 AM)

    Another poorly presented poem. Does no one check these poems? Apart from the spelling mistake, the poem is an excerpt from the great poem Hero and Leander, not the poem itself as this title suggests. “It lies not in our power to love or hate…” – but it lies in our power to control that love or hate.

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • JOSEPH POEWHIT (1/21/2010 4:55:00 AM)

    The first line caught my eye. In life one should strive to forgive as JESUS taught. Then in ECCL: 3 there is a time of love and hate. Seems the inner person has to contend with these sudden emotions and learn control. A maturing process of the soul and mind.

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Ramesh T A (1/21/2010 2:33:00 AM)

    Indeed whatever things happen in life seems to be the work of fate! Love at first sight is surely one such act in life nobody can deny! Success and failure also depend upon Fate!

    2 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Eddie Loughran (1/21/2007 12:56:00 PM)

    This poem is wrongly titled!
    If you check Marlowe's poems it is listed twice.
    It plainly is not about Hero and Leander, but still a very good poem.
    His best! ! ?

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Egal Bohen (2/11/2006 6:36:00 PM)

    The power of this poem lies in the truth of what is said

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Faith Elizabeth Brigham (1/21/2006 5:10:00 AM)

    This is writing at its best! Nothing beats a great love poem! There is much to appreciate in this fine piece. It flowed nicely, the delivery was powerful and there was much wisdom in it.

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Maria Kamy Abdool (1/21/2005 4:59:00 AM)

    Very nice poem. The rhyming is great and the flow is soft, just the way it should be. Great job.

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
Read all 9 comments »

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