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  • Title: The Phoenix and Turtle (Quarto, 1601)
  • Editor: Hardy M. Cook

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-411-0

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Hardy M. Cook
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Phoenix and Turtle (Quarto, 1601)

    171
    Two distincts, Diuision none,
    Number there in loue was slaine.
    Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
    30Distance 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,
    35Flaming in the Phoenix sight;
    Either was the others mine.
    Propertie was thus appalled,
    That the selfe was not the same:
    Single Natures double name,
    40Neither two nor one was called.
    Reason in it selfe confounded,
    Saw Diuision grow together,
    To themselues yet either neither,
    Simple were so well compounded.
    45That 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,
    50To the Phoenix and the Doue,
    Co-supremes and starres of Loue,
    As Chorus to their Tragique Scene.
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