THE FIRE-BORN PHCENIX 83 



resurrection of the body. Not only by the legend of its 

 self-renewal, but by the name of the palm which still, as an 

 emblem of victory, decorates our churches at Easter-tide ; 

 the palm which was strewn alike before Roman conquerors 

 and the lowly Christ, and which angels wave before the 

 Great White Throne. 



Nor does the influence of the Phoenix, bird or tree, end 

 here. As the latter it still keeps its grip on our homes in 

 many a decorative design whose first inception is due to the 

 Tree of Life. 



As the former ? Walk down the streets of any English 

 town and see how many houses bear its mystical mark 

 showing that fire will have no power to bring loss ! 



Truly, since the beginning of records the Pha'nix has 

 been the fire insurance of man and matter. 



Impossible then to minimise the effect of this fabled 

 bird upon our civilisation. 



And if we search through literature and art, it is 

 surprising to find how few of the great ones who have over- 

 topped their generation seem to have escaped its influence. 



Poet after poet alludes to the legend either directly, 

 as when Ovid sings 



" All these receive their birth from other things 

 But from himself the Phoenix only springs 

 Self-born, begotten by the parent flame 

 In which he burned, another and the same." 



Or else by implication as when Shakespeare speaks of 

 his love as 



" the glowing of such fire 

 As on the ashes of his youth doth lie 

 As the death bed whereon it must expire 

 Consumed by that which it was nourished by." 



c 2 



