Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Hardy M. Cook
Not Peer Reviewed

The Phoenix and Turtle (Quarto, 1601)

LOVES MARTYR:

OR

ROSALINS COMPLAINT.

Allegorically shadowing the truth of Loue,
in the constant Fate of the Phe}}nix
and Turtle.

A Poeme enterlaced with much varietie and raritie;
now first translated out of the venerable 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 the new Brytish Poet: collected
out of diuerse Authenticall Records.

To these are added some new comositions, of seuerall moderne Writers
whose names are subscribed as their seuerall workes, upon the
first Sujiect: viz. the Phe}}nix and
Turtle.

Mar:---------- Mutare dominum non potest liber notus


LONDON

Imprinted for E. B.

1601.
HEREAFTER
FOLLOVV DIVERSE
Poeticall Essaies on the former Sub-
iect; viz: the Turtle and Phoenix.

Done by the best and chiefest of our
moderne writers, with their names sub-
scribed 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 Musavetat mori.


MDCI.
170
1LEt the bird of lowdest lay,
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herauld sad and trumpet be:
To whose sound chaste wings obay.
5But thou shriking harbinger,
Foule precurrer of the fiend,
Augour of the feuers end,
To this troupe come thou not neere.
From this Session interdict
10Euery 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,
15Be 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,
20Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.
Here the Antheme doth commence,
Loue and Constancie is dead,
Phoenix and the Turtle fled,
In a mutuall flame from hence.
25So they loued as loue in twaine,
Had the essence but in one,
Two
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