The story of the phoenix

This marvelous creature, so the various stories say, lived alone in an earthly paradise feeding upon the light of stars. At the end of a thousand years, knowing that death was approaching he descended into the outer world and flew to the land of his name, Phoenicia.

There on the tallest palm tree he built a nest of spices. At dawn, lifting his voice, he sang a hymn so ravishingly beautiful that the rising sun reined in his horses to listen. In that instant the universe stood still and sparks from the flaming halo of the sun set fire to the aromatic phoenix nest. Thus the phoenix was consumed in flames but instantly a new phoenix rose from the ashes. Soon the infant bird grew strong and lifting up its nest flew to Aeliopolis - the city of the Sun. There he placed the nest upon the altar of the temple.

Thousands of birds had followed him together in friendship, the hawk with the sparrow, the eagle with the dove. As soon as the might phoenix has laid its nest upon the altar, he soared aloft once more and winged his way toward the distant paradise followed by a multitude of birds, all singing in harmony.