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THE PHOENIX AND TURTLE.

(From the additional Poems to Chester's "Love's Martyr, or
Rosalin's Complaint," 1601.)

LET the bird of loudest lay,"
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herald sad and trumpet be,

To whose sound chaste wings obey.

But thou shrieking harbinger,
Foul pre-currer of the fiend,

Augur of the fever's end,b

To this troop come thou not near!

From this session interdict
Every fowl of tyrant wing,
Save the eagle, feather'd king:
Keep the obsequy so strict.

Let the priest in surplice white,
That defunctive music can,c
Be the death-divining swan,
Lest the requiem lack his right.

Let the bird of loudest lay,-] "In 1601 a book was published, entitled 'Loves Martyr, or Rosalins Complaint, Allegorically shadowing the Truth of Love, in the constant Fate of the Phoenix and Turtle. A Poem 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 British Poet: collected out of diverse authentical Records. "To these are added some new Compositions of several modern Writers, whose names are subscribed to their several Workes; upon the first Subject, viz. the Phonix and Turtle.'

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Among these new compositions is the following poem, subscribed with our poet's name. The second title prefixed to these verses, is yet more full. Hereafter follow diverse Poetical Essaies on the former Subject, viz. the Turtle and Phoenix. Done by the best and chiefest of our modern Writers, with their Names subscribed to their particular Workes. Never before extant.

"And now first consecrated by them all generally to the Love and Merit of the truenoble knight, Sir John Salisburie.'

"The principal writers associated with Shakspeare in this collection are Ben Jonson, Marston, and Chapman. The above very particular account of these verses leaves us, I think, no room to doubt of the genuineness of this little poem."-MALONE.

b Augur of the fever's end,-] Compare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Act V. Sc. 2,

"Now the wasted brands do glow,

Whilst the scritch-owl, scritching loud,

Puts the wretch that lies in woe,

In remembrance of a shroud."

That defunctive music can,—] That funereal music knows.

And thou, treble-dated crow,

That thy sable gender mak'st

With the breath thou giv'st and takʼst,
'Mongst our mourners shalt thou go.

Here the anthem doth commence:-
Love and constancy is dead;
Phoenix and the turtle fled
In a mutual flame from hence.

So they lov'd, as love in twain
Had the essence but in one;
Two distincts, division none:
Number there in love was slain.

Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
"Twixt the turtle and his queen:
Buta in them it were a wonder.

So between them love did shine,
That the turtle saw his right
Flaming in the phoenix' sight;
Either was the other's mine.

Property was thus appall'd,
That the self was not the same
Single nature's double name
Neither two nor one was call'd.

Reason, in itself confounded,
Saw division grow together;
To themselves yet either-neither,
Simple were so well compounded;

That it cried, How true a twain
Seemeth this concordant one!
Love hath reason, reason none,
If what parts can so remain.

Whereupon it made this threned
To the phoenix and the dove,
Co-supremes and stars of love,
As chorus to their tragic scene.

• But in them-] Except in them.

b Property was thus appall' d,-] "Property" means here propriety. The sense of fitness was appall'd.

• Single nature's double name-] This may be right, though we have sometimes thought the genuine reading was,—

"Single natures, double name," &c.

d threne-] A funeral song.

THRENOS.

Beauty, truth, and rarity,
Grace in all simplicity,

Here enclos'd in cinders lie.

Death is now the phoenix' nest;
And the turtle's loyal breast
To eternity doth rest,

Leaving no posterity:-
"T was not their infirmity,
It was married chastity.

Truth may seem, but cannot be;
Beauty, brag, but 't is not she;
Truth and beauty buried be.

To this urn let those repair
That are either true or fair;
For these dead birds sigh a prayer.

GLOSSARIAL

INDEX.

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