NIGHTINGALE. 15 



And Milton also thus addresses the Nightingale — 



Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day, 

 First heard before the shallow Cuckoo's bill, 

 Portend success in love. 



The Nightingale is not at all abundant in Herefordshire, and 

 is almost confined to the southern half of the county. The 

 numbers vary much. " I have known them in certain years," 

 says the Rev. Clement Ley, " so numerous at Sellack, near Ross, 

 as to be positively troublesome, by the nocturnal disturbance they 

 cause. In other seasons, they have been almost entirely absent." 

 An occasional pair take up their quarters on Broomy-hill and on 

 Aylstone-hill, near Hereford, also at Breinton, Sugwas, Rotherwas, 

 and Wormbridge ; they are more regularly found at Eastwood, 

 Ashperton-park, the woods of the Woolhope hills. How Caple, 

 Lyndon, &c. — but in ordinary seasons, there seem only to be one 

 or two pairs of birds in any of these localities. 



For the volume, quality, and execution of its voice, the 

 Nightingale is unrivalled among birds. Mr. Evans compares its 

 song " to the sweet voice of heavenly comfort, poured forth in the 

 night of sorrow and distress." 



Such as the hour is, such my song, 



Half plaintive and half glad ; 

 At first with cadence low and long, 



Mournful awhile, and sad ; 

 Then like a gentle river flowing, 

 And gliding on, 

 With livelier tone : 

 Then deeper, fuller, growing, 

 And onward like a torrent borne. 

 Telling of hope that waits a shining morn. 



Evans— Sony's 0/ the Birds. 



The Nightingale she pours 

 Her solitary lays. 

 Nor asks a witness of her song. 

 Nor thirsts for human praise, 



COWPER. 



Ten thousand warblers cheer the day, and one 

 The live long night. 



CowPER— TasA;. 



Hark ! the nightingale. 

 Queen of all music, to her listening breast 

 Speaks, and the woods are still. 



Cornwall. 



