Our Catholic Heritage in English Literature of Pre-Conquest Days | Page 8

westward,
attended by a great throng, till he gains the country of the Syrians. Then
he sends away his retinue, and stays alone in a grove, hidden from
human eyes. Here is a lofty tree, blossoming bright above all other trees,
and on this tree the Phoenix builds his nest, on a windless day, when
the holy jewel of heaven shines clear. For he is fain by the activity of
his mind to convert old age into life, and thus renew his youth. He
gathers from far and near the sweetest and most delightsome plants and
leaves, and the sweetest perfumes that the Father of all beginnings has
made. On the lofty top of the tree he builds his house fair and winsome,
and sets round his body holy spices and noble boughs. Then, in the
great sheen of mid-day, the Phoenix sits, looking out on the world and
enduring his fate. Suddenly his house is set on fire by the radiant sun,
and amid the glowing spices and sweet odours, bird and nest burn
together in the fierce heat. The life of him, the soul, escapes when the
flame of the funeral pile sears flesh and bone.
Then comes the resurrection of the Phoenix, who rises from the ashes
of his old body, young and wondrously beautiful. Fed on the
honey-dew that oft descends at midnight, he remains a while before his
return to his own dwelling-place, his home of yore.
When he goes he is accompanied by a great retinue of the bird-folk,
who proclaim him their leader. Ere he reaches his own country he
outstrips them all, and comes home alone in his splendour and his
might. And the next thousand years go on, and again comes the change
to this creature who has no dread of death, since he is ever assured of
new life after the fury of the flame.
And so it is that every blessed soul will choose for himself to enter into
everlasting life through the dark portals of death. Much of a like kind

does this bird's nature shadow forth concerning the chosen followers of
Christ, how they may possess pure happiness here, and secure exalted
bliss hereafter.
The allegorical significance is explained by the old poet at considerable
length. The main thought is, of course, the great Resurrection in which,
day by day, we all profess our belief; the Resurrection through the fire
that "shall be astir, and shall consume iniquities"; the Resurrection at
the Day of Judgement, when the just shall be once more young and
comely in the glory of joy and praise, singing in adoration of the
peerless King: "Peace and wisdom and blessing for these Thy gifts, and
for every good, be unto Thee, the true God, throned in majesty. Infinite,
high, and holy is the power of Thy might. The heavens on high with the
angels, are full of the glory, O Father Almighty, Lord of all gods, and
the earth also. Defend us, Author of Creation. Thou art the Father
Almighty in the highest, the Lord of Heaven."
How familiarly these words ring! For our heritage of praise has come to
us from afar and from of old.
And again rises the chant triumphant, to the endless honour of the
Eternal Son, whose coming into the world and birth and death are all
typified by the mystical Phoenix.
I have dwelt at considerable length upon this poem for various reasons.
One is that it is of a special kind, the allegorical; another is that, as I
have pointed out, it is full of a richness and colour and love of nature,
which is not found in the earlier poetry. Where does it come from? It is
most probably part of the Celtic influence which has set its magic touch
upon English poetry and given to it that "light that never was on sea or
land." It has done far more than give a sense of colour and beauty and
nature-love. More than the love of nature in its beauty is the sense of
fellowship between man and nature, the sense that makes man see his
own joy and sorrow reflected in the mighty heart of Nature. This is a
very big subject, and can only be touched on here. The beginning of
this influence, which came also from Wales and France, is due to
Ireland. We must never forget how great a debt England owes to
Ireland. May we say that it was from the Irish missionaries whose feet

hallowed the soil of Iona that the English north country caught that
intense glowing love of the Holy Faith, which even still, in a measure,
differentiates the north of England from the south?[C] We must value
very greatly the solid foundation of strength, sincerity, what we call