Robert Chester [1601], NA (Imprinted for E. B., London) [word count] [S20125].
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Volume front matter
Title page
LOVES MARTYR: OR, ROSALINS COMPLAINT.
Allegorically shadowing the truth of Loue, in the constant Fate of the Phœnix and turtle.
A Poeme enterlaced with much varietie and raritie; now first translated out of the venerable Italian Torquato Cæliano by Robert Chester.
With the true legend of famous King Arthur, the last of the nine Worthies, being the first Essay of a new Brytish Poet:collected out of diuerse Authenticall Records.
To these are added some new compositions, of seuerall moderne Writers whose names are subscribed to their seuerall workes, vpon the first Subiect: viz. the Phœnix and Turtle.
&lblank; Mutare dominum non potest liber notus.
Mar:
LONDON
Imprinted for E. B.
1601.
-- --
Dedication
TO THE HONORABLE, and (of me before all other)
honored Knight, Sir Iohn Salisburie,
one of the Esquires of the bodie to the
Queenes most excellent Maiestie, Robert
Chester wisheth increase of
vertue and honour.
-- --
Title page
HEREAFTER FOLLOW DIVERSE Poeticall Essaies on the former Subiect;
viz: the Turtle and Phœnix.
Done by the best and chiefest of our
moderne writers, with their names
subscribed to their particular workes:
neuer before extant.
And (now first) consecrated by them all generally,
to the loue and merite of the true-noble Knight,
Sir Iohn Salisburie.
Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori.
MDCI.
-- 170 --
[The Phoenix and Turtle]
Let the bird of lowdest lay,
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herauld sad and trumpet be:
To whose sound chaste wings obay.
But thou shriking harbinger,
Foule precurrer of the fiend,
Augour of the feuers end,
To this troupe come thou not neere.
From this Session interdict
Euery foule of tyrant wing,
Saue the Eagle feath'red King,
Keepe the obsequie so strict.
Let the Priest in Surples white,
That defunctiue Musicke can,
Be the death-deuining Swan,
Lest the Requiem lacke his right.
And thou treble dated Crow,
That thy sable gender mak'st,
With the breath thou giu'st and tak'st,
Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.
Here the Antheme doth commence,
Loue and Constancie is dead,
Phœnix and the Turtle fled,
In a mutuall flame from hence.
So they loued as loue in twaine,
Had the essence but in one,
-- 171 --
Two distincts, Diuision none,
Number there in loue was slaine.
Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance and no space was seene,
Twixt this Turtle and his Queene;
But in them it were a wonder.
So betweene them Loue did shine,
That the Turtle saw his right,
Flaming in the Phœnix sight;
Either was the others mine.
Propertie was thus appalled,
That the selfe was not the same:
Single Natures double name,
Neither two nor one was called.
Reason in it selfe confounded,
Saw Diuision grow together,
To themselues yet either neither,
Simple were so well compounded.
That it cried, how true a twaine,
Seemeth this concordant one,
Loue hath Reason, Reason none,
If what parts, can so remaine.
Whereupon it made this Threne,
To the Phœnix and the Doue,
Co-supremes and starres of Loue,
As Chorus to their Tragique Scene.
-- 172 --
Beautie, Truth, and Raritie,
Grace in all simplicitie,
Here enclosde, in cinders lie.
Death is now the Phœnix nest,
And the Turtles loyall brest,
To eternitie doth rest.
Leauing no posteritie,
Twas not their infirmitie,
It was married Chastitie.
Truth may seeme, but cannot be,
Beautie bragge, but tis not she,
Truth and Beautie buried be.
To this vrne let those repaire,
That are either true or faire,
For these dead Birds, sigh a prayer.
William Shake-speare. |
