“ ‘An infant phoenix from the former springs, His father’s heir, and from his tender wings Shakes off his parent dust, his method he pursues, And the same lease of life on the same terms renews. When grown to manhood he begins his reign, And with stiff pinions can his flight sustain; He lightens of its load the tree that bore His father’s royal sepulchre before, And his own cradle: this with pious care Placed on his back, he cuts the buxom air, Seeks the sun’s city, and his sacred church, And decently lays down his burden in the porch.

“ ‘A wonder more amazing would we find? The hyena shows it, of a double kind: The thin chameleon fed with air, receives The colour of the thing to which he cleaves.

“ ‘India when conquer’d, on the conquering god For planted vines the sharp-eyed lynx bestow’d, Whose moisture shed before it touches earth Congeals in air, and gives to gems their birth. So coral soft, and white in ocean’s bed, Comes harden’d up in air, and glows with red.