That there is but one PhÅnix in the World, which after many hundred years burneth it self, and from the ashes thereof ariseth up another, is a conceit not new or altogether popular, but of great Antiquity; not only delivered by humane Authors, but frequently expressed also by holy Writers; by _Cyril_, _Epiphanius_, and others, by _Ambrose_ in his Hexameron, and _Tertullian_ in his Poem _De Judicio Domini_; but more agreeably unto the present sense, in his excellent Tract, _De Resurrectione carnis_. _Illum dico alitem orientis peculiarem, de singularitate famosum, de posteritate monstruosum; qui semetipsum libenter funerans renovat, natali fine decedens, atque succedens iterum PhÅnix. Ubi jam nemo, iterum ipse; quia non jam, alius idem._ The Scripture also seems to favour it, particularly that of _Job_ 21. In the interpretation of _Beda_, _Dicebam in nidulo meo moriar, et sicut PhÅnix multiplicabo dies_: and _Psal._ 31. Î´á½·ÎºÎ±Î¹Î¿Ï á½¥ÏÏÎµÏ Ïοá¿Î½Î¹Î¾ á¼Î½Î¸á½µÏει, _vir justus ut PhÅnix florebit_, as _Tertullian_ renders it, and so also expounds it in his Book before alledged.
[Sidenote: _Against the story of the PhÅnix._]
All which notwithstanding, we cannot presume the existence of this Animal; nor dare we affirm there is any PhÅnix in Nature. For, first there wants herein the definitive confirmator and test of things uncertain, that is, the sense of man. For though many Writers have much enlarged hereon, yet is there not any ocular describer, or such as presumeth to confirm it upon aspection. And therefore _Herodotus_ that led the story unto the _Greeks_, plainly saith, he never attained the sight of any, but only in the picture.
Again, Primitive Authors, and from whom the stream of relations is derivative, deliver themselves very dubiously; and either by a doubtful parenthesis, or a timorous conclusion overthrow the whole relation. Thus _Herodotus_ in his _Euterpe_, delivering the story hereof, presently interposeth, á¼Î¼Î¿á½¶ μὲν οὠÏá½·ÏÏα λέγονÏεÏ; that is, which account seems to me improbable. _Tacitus_ in his annals affordeth a larger story, how the PhÅnix was first seen at _Heliopolis_ in the reign of _Sesostris_, then in the reign of _Amasis_, after in the days of _Ptolomy_, the third of the _Macedonian_ race; but at last thus determineth, _Sed Antiquitas obscura, et nonnulli falsum esse hunc PhÅnicem neque Arabum è terris credidere_. _Pliny_ makes yet a fairer story, that the PhÅnix flew into _Egypt_ in the Consulship of _Quintus Plancius_, that it was brought to Rome in the Censorship of _Claudius_, in the eight hundred year of the City, and testified also in their records; but after all concludeth, _Sed quæ falsa nemo dubitabit_, As we read it in the fair and ancient impression of _Brixia_; as _Aldrovandus_ hath quoted it, and as it is found in the manuscript Copy, as _Dalechampius_ hath also noted.