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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 | Loves martyr |  |
Pellican.
VVhat wondrous hart-grieuing spectacle,Hast thou beheld the worlds true miracle?
With what a spirit did the Turtle flye
Into the fire, and chearfully did dye?
He look't more pleasant in his countenance
Within the flame, then when he did aduance,
His pleasant wings vpon the naturall ground,
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The Phœnix Natures deare adopted child,
With a pale heauy count'nance, wan and mild,
Grieu'd for to see him first possesse the place,
That was allotted her, her selfe to grace,
And followes cheerfully her second turne,
And both together in that fire do burne.
O if the rarest creatures of the earth,
Because but one at once did ere take breath
Within the world, should with a second he,
A perfect forme of loue and amitie
Burne both together, what should there arise,
And be presented to our mortall eyes,
Out of the fire, but a more perfect creature?
Because that two in one is put by Nature,
The one hath giuen the child inchaunting beautie,
The other giues it loue and chastitie:
The one hath giuen it wits rarietie,
The other guides the wit most charily:
The one for vertue doth excell the rest,
The other in true constancie is blest.
If that the Phœnix had bene separated,
And from the gentle Turtle had bene parted,
Loue had bene murdred in the infancie,
Without these two no loue at all can be.
Let the loue wandring wits but learne of these,
To die together, so their griefe to ease:
But louers nowadayes do loue to change,
And here and there their wanton eyes do range,
Not pleased with one choise, but seeking many,
And in the end scarce is content with any:
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That shewes it selfe in Phœbus golden light,
But if in kindnesse you do striue to take it,
Fades cleane away, and you must needs forsake it,
Louers are like the leaues with Winter shoken,
Brittle like glasse, that with one fall is broken.
O fond corrupted age, when birds shall show
The world their dutie, and to let men know
That no sinister chaunce should hinder loue,
Though as these two did, deaths arrest they proue.
I can but mourne with sadnesse and with griefe,
Not able for to yeeld the world reliefe,
To see these two consumed in the fire,
Whom Loue did copulate with true desire:
But in the worlds wide eare I meane to ring
The fame of this dayes wondrous offring,
That they may singin notes of Chastitie,
The Turtle and the Phœnix amitie.
| Loves martyr | |