The Phoenix and the Turtle : Summary
Introduction:
'The Phoenix and the Turtle' is a verse of 18 stanzas composed by Shakespeare. It was published in 1601 by Robert Chester in the collection 'Love's Martyr or Rosalin's Complaint'
The poem is about two deceased lovers, Phoenix and Turtle, and their funeral.
The phoenix is a legendary mythical bird known for its power to come back alive from ashes. The turtle is a symbol of constant affection. The poem is allegorical in nature.
Summary:
At the beginning of the poem, a large number of different birds assemble to attend the funeral of two deceased birds, the phoenix and the turtle (dove). The poem first invites the loudest bird to sit on the unique Arabian tree and sing of the love of the two birds. The shrieking harbinger, owl, the prophet of death and the birds of prey should not participate in the funeral. Yet the royal bird eagle is allowed to participate since he is the king of birds.
Next the poem invokes the white swan to be the priest of the funeral ceremony. The 'treble-dated crow' shall also take part in the session and sing along with the other mourners. The anthem begins. The deceased couple loved each other to such an extent that their two souls mingled and become one. This shows that they belonged to each other and no external factors could cause their separation, even the death.
This union of their souls into one made their love reasonable. But reason became unreasonable. The Verse composed by Reason reads as follows:
Beauty, truth and rarity are buried in the urn with the deceased couple. True fidelity has gone away with their burial. He requests the true or fair beings to pray for the dead couple's peaceful rest. He also wishes the phoenix and the turtle to rest in peace with all eternity.
Next the poem invokes the white swan to be the priest of the funeral ceremony. The 'treble-dated crow' shall also take part in the session and sing along with the other mourners. The anthem begins. The deceased couple loved each other to such an extent that their two souls mingled and become one. This shows that they belonged to each other and no external factors could cause their separation, even the death.
This union of their souls into one made their love reasonable. But reason became unreasonable. The Verse composed by Reason reads as follows:
Beauty, truth and rarity are buried in the urn with the deceased couple. True fidelity has gone away with their burial. He requests the true or fair beings to pray for the dead couple's peaceful rest. He also wishes the phoenix and the turtle to rest in peace with all eternity.
