So speaks he, and shaking his head casts one of his golden hairs and smites willing Phoenix with its life-giving effulgence. Now, to ensure his rebirth, he suffers himself to be burned and in his eagerness to be born again meets death with joy. Stricken with the heavenly flame the fragrant pile catches fire and burns the aged body. The moon in amaze checks her milk-white heifers and heaven halts his revolving spheres, while the pyre conceives the new life; Nature takes care that the deathless bird * * * * * Page 228 aeternam ne perdat avem, flammasque fideles admonet, ut rerum decus inmortale remittant. Continuo dispersa vigor per membra volutus 65 aestuat et venas recidivus sanguis inundat. victuri cineres nullo cogente moveri incipiunt plumaque rudem vestire favillam. qui fuerat genitor, natus nunc prosilit idem succeditque novus: geminae confinia vitae 70 exiguo medius discrimine separat ignis. Protinus ad Nilum manes sacrare paternos auctoremque globum Phariae telluris ad oras ferre iuvat. velox alienum pergit in orbem portans gramineo clausum velamine funus. 75 innumerae comitantur aves stipatque volantem alituum suspensa cohors. exercitus ingens obnubit vario late convexa meatu. nec quisquam tantis e milibus obvius audet ire duci, sed regis iter fragrantis adorant. 80 non ferus accipiter, non armiger ipse Tonantis bella movet: commune facit reverentia foedus. talis barbaricas flavo de Tigride turmas ductor Parthus agit: gemmis et divite cultu luxurians sertis apicem regalibus ornat; 85 auro frenat equum, perfusam murice vestem Assyria signatur acu tumidusque regendo celsa per famulas acies dicione superbit. Clara per Aegyptum placidis notissima sacris urbs Titana colit, centumque adcline columnis 90 invehitur templum Thebano monte revulsis. * * * * * Page 229 perish not, and calls upon the sun, mindful of his promise, to restore its immortal glory to the world. Straightway the life spirit surges through his scattered limbs; the renovated blood floods his veins. The ashes show signs of life; they begin to move though there is none to move them, and feathers clothe the mass of cinders. He who was but now the sire comes forth from the pyre the son and successor; between life and life lay but that brief space wherein the pyre burned.