220 NIGHTINGALE. 



ing from a spring, on the ear of night. 

 How beautiful is Byron's description of 

 the song of this bird, in his never-to-be- 

 forgotten "Bride of Abydos!" 



"The live-long night there sings 



A bird unseen but not remote: 

 Invisible his airy wings, 

 But soft as harp that Houri strings 



His long enchanting note! 

 It were the bulbul; but his throat 



Though mournful, pours not such a strain: 

 For they who listen cannot leave 

 The spot, but linger there and grieve 



As if they loved in vain! 

 And yet so sweet the tears they shed, 

 'Tis sorrow so unmixed with dread, 

 They scarce can bear the morn to break 



That melancholy spell, 

 And longer yet would weep and wake, 



He sings so wild and well! 

 But when the day-blush bursts from high 

 Expires that magic melody ! 



And again how powerful, and yet how 

 sweet, is the tale of the Prince Menaphon 

 to his cousin Amethus, in Ford's (one of 



