The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26
DR. EVANS WRITES VIEWS ON FAMOUS POEM WHICH HAS ALWAYS PUZZLED SCHOLARS

l am writing at great disadvantage, having left my books at Eastwood, and, therefore, am without recourse to any references I brought with me Tennyson, two of Father Sheehan's volumes and perhaps half dozen others, but left even Shakespeare behind. So. that l shall have to draw heavily upon my mem- ory. have borrowed volume of Shake speare-the one volume containing the plays. the sonnets and other poems. with out note or comment. For student of the work of the great dramas, you must know that such compilation is very un- satisfactory. However, what I shall say will furnish a locus standi until you can do better.
 Who wrote "The Phoenix and Turtle no one knows. It appeared for the first time among some additional poems pub | lished by Chester. in the year 1601 Its
 having been signed "S,'' or "w. s. | meant nothing at that time. for many poems and plays were current with which Shakespeare had nothing to do. There | is only one line in the poem that reminds one of Shakespeare-th third line of the
 second stanza
 The poem recites the execution of the | Earl of Essex, together with his love for 1 the Queen and her love for the unfor- tunate Earl, whom she beheaded in 1901.
 the year that the poem first came to light. | In that same year, shortly after Essex was executed. there appeared a poem
 which likened Essex to "robin' and an
 unknown person to "a thrush" Not hav- l ing my books by me, I cannot say to whose authorship the little sonnet was credited. But someone said. practically, l The comparison is inadequate. 1t would
 be nearer the facts to lil<en Elizabeth and 1 Essex to a Phoenix and Turtle" And so. the poem now in question appeared The author of 'The Phoenix and Fur | tie" had evidently been reader of Her. l odotus to whom the reading world was | indebted for a description of the phoenix 1 Herodotus, in his description of the birds 1 of the east tells that he had not seen | the phoenix. but he did see its picture
 and heard it described It was the most powerful of birds; it had feathers of | brilliant gold color which shone as the | sun, and red plumage that looked like glowing fire as the light fell upon it. The writer of the poem saw in this l description suggestion of Elizabeth. Her royal regalia and splendid crown, together with her regal ornaments were of gold Her hair was red. it's color being made l conspicuous by it's puffs and elaborate
 manner of arrangement. Thus. like the phoenix. she appeared to be covered with | gold and red.
 Furthermore, the phoenix was bird of great power and was a symbol oi immortality. Elizabeth was a queen and 1 held the symbol of authority, while her | age. at the time of Essex's death, was
 about 6S. and up to the time of that trag edy showed no signs of decay.
 | The turtle" was the turtle-doye. bird
 noted for its affection and gentle. mourn full cooing it's sphere of life being ir strong contrast with that of the phoenix | as was also it's power among birds Tho l turtle" could easily in a poets mind lrepresent Robert Devereaux, the Earl oi Essex, who dared to love his sovereign. Now, turn to the poem.
 Let the bird of loudest lay,
 On the sole Arabian tree
 Herald sad and trumpet be,
 To whose sound chaste wings obey" T. The Queen was the "so1e" occupant of the throne and her voice was the
 "loudest" of the realm. for she could be heard to the remotest part of hei
 kingdom.
 The second stanza discIoses the fact I that the rabble. 'shrielSing harbinger'
 of the foul fiend," the headsman; the
 "precurrer of the fiend." should not lappear along with the nobility, to lool, upon the tragedy about to be enacted l"Precurrer" comes from the Latin and describes a mob running before a per.
 son. The third stanza admits the courts highest official in order that he might
 certify the execution and maintain a
 sacred decorum. Hence the presence of
 "The eagle, feathered king (to)
 Keep the obsequy so strict"
 Yet the condemned Essex Is not to
 be denied the benefit of clergy, as
 witness the fourth stanza. The fifth
 stanza recognizes the presence of the black-robed official who shall give the headless body suitable burial, hence l"And thou, treble dated crow. That thy sable render mak's