Iam breve decrescit lumen languetque senili segnis stella gelu, qualis cum forte tenetur nubibus et dubio vanescit Cynthia cornu. iam solitae medios alae transcurrere nimbos vix ima tolluntur humo. tum conscius aevi 40 defuncti reducisque parans exordia formae arentes tepidis de collibus eligit herbas et tumulum texens pretiosa fronde Sabaeum componit, bustumque sibi partumque futurum. Hic sedet et Solem blando clangore salutat 45 debilior miscetque preces ac supplice cantu praestatura novas vires incendia poscit. quem procul adductis vidit cum Phoebus habenis, stat subito dictisque pium solatur alumnum: “o senium positure rogo falsisque sepulcris 50 natales habiture vices, qui saepe renasci exitio proprioque soles pubescere leto, accipe principium rursus corpusque coactum desere. mutata melior procede figura.” Haec fatus propere flavis e crinibus unum 55 concussa cervice iacit missoque volentem vitali fulgore ferit. iam sponte crematur ut redeat gaudetque mori festinus in ortum. fervet odoratus telis caelestibus agger consumitque senem. nitidos stupefacta iuvencos 60 luna premit pigrosque polus non concitat axes parturiente rogo: curis Natura laborat, * * * * * Page 227 Now the Phoenix’s bright eye grows dim and the pupil becomes palsied by the frost of years, like the moon when she is shrouded in clouds and her horn begins to vanish in the mist. Now his wings, wont to cleave the clouds of heaven, can scarce raise them from the earth. Then, realizing that his span of life is at an end and in preparation for a renewal of his splendour, he gathers dry herbs from the sun-warmed hills, and making an interwoven heap of the branches of the precious tree of Saba he builds that pyre which shall be at once his tomb and his cradle. On this he takes his seat and as he grows weaker greets the Sun with his sweet voice; offering up prayers and supplications he begs that those fires will give him renewal of strength. Phoebus, on seeing him afar, checks his reins and staying his course consoles his loving child with these words: “Thou who art about to leave thy years behind upon yon pyre, who, by this pretence of death, art destined to rediscover life; thou whose decease means but the renewal of existence and who by self-destruction regainest thy lost youth, receive back thy life, quit the body that must die, and by a change of form come forth more beauteous than ever.”