The Phœnix

Notes

1. 2

   Remotus. The reference is supposed to be to Arabia, though some think that India is pointed out as the abode of the phœnix.

2. 3

   Hiat.

3. 4

   Cædis amore furor. There is another reading, “cedit.”

4. 5

   Vellera, “thin fleecy clouds.” So Virg., Georg., i. 397; Tenuia nec lanæ per cœlum vellera ferri.

5. 6

   Vivum.

6. 7

   Per singula tempora mensum.

7. 8

   Unica, “the only one.” It was supposed that only one phœnix lived at one time. So the proverb “Phœnice rarior.”

8. 9

   Birds were considered sacred to peculiar gods: thus the phœnix was held sacred to Phœbus. [Layard, Nineveh, vol. ii. p. 462.]

9. 10

   Gurgite.

10. 11

    Aura. So Virg., Æneid, vi. 204: “Discolor unde auri per ramos aura refulsit.”

11. 12

    Ciere.

12. 13

    Aëdoniæ voces. The common reading is “Ædoniæ,” contrary to the metre.

13. 14

    i.e., strains of Apollo and the Muses, for Cyrrha is at the foot of Parnassus, their favourite haunt.

14. 15

    Aperta Olympi, when he has mounted above the horizon.

15. 16

    Protulit.

16. 17

    Antistes.

17. 18

    Gravem, i.e., a burden to herself.

18. 19

    Fatis urgentibus; others read “spatiis vergentibus.”

19. 20

    Studio renascendi.

20. 21

    Venus was worshipped in Syro-Phœnice.

21. 22

    Gratum; others read “Graium,” Grecian.

22. 23

    Quà; another reading is “quam,” that which.

23. 24

    Purpureum. There may be a reference to the early dawn.

24. 25

    Obsit.

25. 26

    Some ancient writers place these fabulous people in India, others beyond Arabia.

26. 27

    Aristas. The word is sometimes applied, as here, to spikenard.

27. 28

    Et sociat myrrhæ pascua grata nimis; another reading is, “et sociam myrrhæ vim, Panachaia tuæ.”

28. 29

    In talique toro; others, “vitalique toro,” i.e., on a death-bed.

29. 30

    Commendat.

30. 31

    Genitali, “productive;” observe the antithesis.

31. 32

    Conflat.

32. 33

    Effectum; others read, “ad fœtum seminis instar habent.”

33. 34

    Cum corpore curto; others read, “cum tempore certo.”

34. 35

    Ruptis exuviis. The same word is used by Virgil to describe the serpent slipping its skin—“positis exuviis.”

35. 36

    Tineæ.

36. 37

    Tenues; others read “teneri.”

37. 38

    Thure soluto.

38. 39

    Exuvias suas.

39. 40

    In formam conglobat.

40. 41

    Quem croceum. The word is properly used to denote the colour of saffron; it is also applied to other bright colours.

41. 42

    Sub cortice lævi; the common reading is “sub sidere cæli.”

42. 43

    Clarum insigne; others read, “aurum…insigneque.”

43. 44

    Ceu; others read, “seu.”

44. 45

    Gemmea cuspis. Her beak is of horn, but bright and transparent as a gem.

45. 46

    Ingentes oculi; others read, “oculos.”

46. 47

    Hyacinthos; gems of this colour.

47. 48

    Æquatur.

48. 49

    i.e., the rays of the sun.

49. 50

    Roseus; others read, “roseo honore.”

50. 51

    The pheasant.

51. 52

    Magniciem. Some take this as denoting the name of a bird, but no such bird is known.

52. 53

    Pergrave pondus; others read, “per grave pondus,” by reason of the heavy weight.

53. 54

    Se exhibet; others read “se probat.”

54. 55

    Tanti ad miracula visus. [Deut. iv. 17.]

55. 56

    Inde; others read, “ille,” but the allusion is very obscure.

56. 57

    Fili, “the thread,” i.e. of fate.

57. 58

    Colit. [Badger’s Nestorians, vol. i. p. 122.]