268 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



One of the prettiest Franciscan stories is that of the 

 saint and the nightingale as presented by Mrs. Jamie- 

 son; 105 and, by the way, antiphonal singing with birds 

 is related of several holy men and women of old : 



As he was sitting with his disciple Leo, he felt himself 

 penetrated with joy and consolation by the song of the night- 

 ingale . . . and Francis began to sing, and when he stopped the 

 nightingale took up the strain; and thus they sang alternately 

 until the night was far advanced and Francis was obliged to 

 stop for his voice failed. Then he confessed that the little 

 bird had vanquished him. He called it to him, thanked it for 

 its song, and gave it the remainder of his bread; and having 

 bestowed his blessing upon it the creature flew away. 



Longfellow has preserved in melodious verse that 

 legend of the Spanish Charles V and the swallow that 

 chose his tent as a site for its nest at a time when the 

 emperor — 



I forget in what campaign, 

 Long besieged in mud and rain 

 Some old frontier town of Flanders. 



Yes, it was a swallow's nest, 



Built of clay and hair of horse's 

 Mane, or tail, or dragoon's crest, 

 Found on hedgerows east and west 

 After skirmish of the forces. 



The headquarters staff were scandalized by the bird's 

 impudence, but Charles forbade their malice: 



"Let no hand the bird molest," 



Said he solemnly, "nor hurt her!" 

 Adding then, by way of jest, 

 "Golondrina is my guest, 



'Tis the wife, of some deserter !" 



