14 NIGHTINGALE. 



Only the solitary Robin sings. 



And perch 'd aloft with melancholy note, 



Chants out the dirge of autumn. 



HURDIS. 



The Robin pensive autumn cheers 

 In all her locks of yellow. 



Burns. 



Each woodland pipe is mute, 

 Save when the Redbreast mourns the fading leaf ; 

 Now plaintively in interrupted trills, 

 He sings the dirge of the departing year, 

 Lulling the year with all its cares to rest. 



Grahame. 



The autumnal song of the Robin has a peculiar character of 

 plaintive sweetness which has endeared it to the poets. Thus 

 Keble greets it as — 



Sweet messenger of calm decay, 



Saluting sorrow as you may, 

 As one still bent to find or make the best ; 



In thee, and in this quiet mead, 



The lesson of sweet peace I read, 

 Rather in all to be resigned, than blest. 



Christian Year — 21st Sunday after Trinity. 



Genus— DAULIAS. 



DAULIAS LUSCINIA— Nightingale. 



It was formerly considered a good omen to hear the song of 

 the Nightingale before the Cuckoo. Thus Chaucer sings — 



It was a common tale 

 That it were gode to hear the Nightingale, 

 Mocke rather than the lewde Cuckoo singe. 



And when he had once heard the Cuckoo first, he imagines 

 the Nightingale thus addressing him — 



Be not thou dismaied. 

 For thou hast heard the Cuckoo erst than me, 

 For if I live, it shall amendid be 

 The next Male, if I be not afraied. 



