Classic Poem

The Salamander cannot liue
without the help of flaming fire:
To bath his limmes in burning coales,
it is his glee and chiefe desire
The litle fish doth loue the lake,
dame Nature hath assigned him:
To liue no longer then he doth
amid the siluer channel swimme
Chameleon feedes but on the ayre,
the lacke whereof is his decay:
These three doe perish out of hand,
take fire, flouds, and ayre away
Iudge you (my deere) the danger then
of very force that must ensue,
Vnto this careful heart of mine,
that cannot liue withouten you
I am the fish, you are the floode,
my heart it is that hangs on hooke:
I cannot liue if you doe stoppe,
the floudhatch of your frendly brooke.
I filly Salamander die,
if you maintaine not frendships fire:
Quenche you the coale and you shal see
me pine for lack of my desire.
You are the pleasant breathing ayre,
and I your poore Chameleon,
Barre me your breath and out of hand
my life and sweete delight is gone
Which sith tis so (good mistresse) then
doe saue my life to serue your turne:
Let me haue ayre and water stil
let me your Salamander burne
My death wil doe you litle good,
my life perhaps may pleasure you:
Rewe on my case, and pitie him
that sweares himself your seruant true
I beare the badge within my brest,
wherin are blazde your colours braue:
Loue is the only liuery, that
I at your curteous hand doe craue
I doe desire no greedy gaine,
I couet not the massye golde:
Embrace your seruant (mistres) then
his wages wil be quickly tolde
As you are faire so let me finde
your bountie equall to your face:
I cannot thinke that kinde so neere
to beauties bower would rigor place,
Your comely hewe behight me hope,
your louely lookes allow mee life.
Your graue regard doth make me deeme
you fellow to Vlisses wife,
Which if be true then happy I,
that so in loue my fancie set:
In you doth rest my life, my death,
by slaying me no gaine you get
The noble minded Lion kils
no yeelding beast by crueltie,
And worthie dames delight to faue
their seruants liues by curtesie.

Virtuti comes inuidia