Loves martyr or, Rosalins complaint. Allegorically shadowing the truth of Loue, in the constant Fate of the Phoenix and Turtle. A Poeme enterlaced with much varietie and raritie; now first translated out of the uenerable Italian Torquato Caeliano, by Robert Chester. With the true legend of famous King Arthur, the last of the nine Worthies, being the first Essay of a new British 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, upon the first Subiect: viz. the Phoenix and Turtle |
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The Epistle of Lucius Tiberius the Romane Lieutenant, to Arthur King of Britanie. |
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 | Loves martyr |  |
The Epistle of Lucius Tiberius the Romane Lieutenant, to Arthur King of Britanie.
Lvcius Tiberius, Romes great gouernour,To Arthur King of large Britania,
As he deserueth fauour at our hands:
Rome and the Romane Senators do wonder,
And I my selfe exceedingly do muse,
To thinke of thy audacious haughtie mind,
And thy tyrannicall dealing to our State:
Hote firie Anger boyleth in my breast,
And I am mou'd with honour of the cause,
For to reuenge thy Iniuries to Rome:
And that like one or'proud of his estate,
Refusest to acknowledge her thy head,
Neither regardest speedily to redresse,
Thy base and blind obliuious ouersight,
And vniust dealing to offend the Senate,
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Vnlesse Forgetfulnesse do bleare thine eyes,
Thou knowst the whole huge Circle of the world,
Are made Contributorie and owe vs homage.
The tribute that the Britaines ought to pay,
The which the Senate did demaund of thee,
Being due vnto the Romaine Emperie:
For that braue Iulius Cæsar had enioy'd,
And many worthy Romanes many yeares,
Thou in contempt of vs and our Estate,
Our honorable Estate and dignitie,
Presum'st iniuriously for to detaine:
The corsines of wel-seated Gallia,
The Provinces of Sauoy and Daulphine,
With hot-flam'd fierie warre hast thou subdude,
And gotten in thy large possession;
The Ilands of the bordring Ocean,
The Kings whereof so long as we enioy'd them,
Payd tribute to our Noble auncestors.
The Senate highly mou'd with thy presumption,
Determine for to redemaund amends,
And restitution for thy open wrongs:
I therefore from the noble Senatours,
Commaund thee on thy true Allegiance,
To Rome, to them, to me, and our Estate,
That in the midst of August next ensuing,
Thou do repaire to Rome, there for to answer,
Before the worthie Senate and the Lords
Thy Trespasse; and abide arbitrement,
Such as by them shall there be ordred,
And iustice shall impose vpon thy head:
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I will forthwith inuade thy Territories,
Wast thy whole Countrey, burne thy Townes and Cities;
And what so ere thy rashnesse hath detain'd,
From Rome or from the Romaine Emperie,
I will by dint of sword subdue againe.
Thus arm'd with hopefull Resolution,
Weele stay thy answer of submission.
Lu. Tib.
| Loves martyr | |