Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON ANNEL-SEED ROBIN, THE HERMOPHRODITE; EPITAPH, by CHARLES COTTON


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ON ANNEL-SEED ROBIN, THE HERMOPHRODITE; EPITAPH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Here, reader, lies bereft of life
Last Line: If they must part, the devil part 'em.
Subject(s): Hermaphrodites


HERE, Reader, lies bereft of life,
The emblem strange of man and wife,
Who, if they pay their vows aright,
Make up a true Hermophrodite;
And in this chest entombed are,
The wonder of a single pair;
So that here thou may'st bewail,
Either the female, or the male.
Though the distracted grief of friends,
Ever in single Robin ends.
No rib was taken from his side,
Robin bridegroom was, and bride,
And, of his marriage tie so tender,
He only did, with she engender;
Robin, with Robin so far won,
That the male half begot a son,
The female half, a few years after,
Happily brought forth a daughter,
So like, you from their looks might gather,
That Robin mother was, and father;
From Robin only diff'ring thus,
That neither was amphibious,
Heav'n did so happily combine
This doubtful gender masculine,
That they were married at their birth,
And both together laid in earth,
Where let them lie, and no man thwart 'em;
If they must part, the Devil part 'em.





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