THE NIGHTINGALE. 



298 



which said plainly, ' I am free, and I have wings ■; against me thou 

 canst do nothing. But I am very willing to sing for thee.' 



"We had a succession of severe storms at breeding-time, and on 

 one occasion the thunder rolled near us. No scene can be more 

 affecting than the approach of these moments: the air fails; fish rise 

 to the surface in order to breathe a little ; the flower bends languidly ; 

 everything suffers, and tears flow unbidden. I could see clearly that 

 his feelings were in unison with the general distress. From his 

 bosom, oppressed like mine, broke a kind of hoarse sob, like a 

 wild cry. 



" But the wind, which had suddenly risen, now plunged into our 

 woods; the loftiest trees, even the cedar, bent. Torrents of rain 

 dashed headlong, all was afloat. What became of the poor little nest, 

 exposed on the ground, with no other shelter than the periwinkle's 

 leaf? It escaped; for when the sun reappeared, I saw m}^ bird 

 flying in the purified air, gayer than ever, with his heart full of 

 song. All the world of wings then hymned the hght ; but he more 

 loudly than any. His clarion voice had returned. I saw him be- 

 neath my window, his eye on fire and his breast swollen, intoxi- 



