A BESTIARY: THE TURTLE DOVE by ANONYMOUS

IN the book of the Turtle Dove
We find it writ in rhyme,
How, loyal to one true love
She keepeth her whole life time.
If she once hath found a mate,
Never will she stray,
Wives from her may pattern take
As I now will say;
By her mate she sits at night,
Thro' the day they fly,
Whoso saith they part in flight,
I say, he doth lie.
But and if her mate be dead,
Widowed then is she,
Lone she flies and fares that stead,
Will none other's be.
So she sitteth alone for aye,
Her old love awaiteth she,
In her heart bears him night and day,
E'en as he alive should be.

@3Significatio@1

List, each loyal man, this lore,
Oft upon it muse,
This, our Soul, at the kirk door
Christ for mate did choose.
Of our Soul the Spouse is He,
Love Him with your might,
Never from Him severed be
Or by day or night.
Tho' from out our sight He fare
Be we to Him true,
Take no other lord, and ne'er
Change old love for new;
But believe He lives to reign
High on Heaven's Throne,
And that He will come again,
And by us be known;
Judgment upon man to tell
By Doom diverse given,
Those He hates shall pass to Hell,
Those He loves, to Heaven!

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