MUSIC OF THE GROVE. 237 



While evening spreads her shadowy veil, 



With pensive steps I'll stray, 

 And soft on tiptoe gently steal 



Beneath thy favourite spray.* 



I have quoted these pretty lines, because they 

 were evidently written by one who could fully ap- 

 preciate the charms of nature. Nor is this the 

 only female poet who has celebrated the songs of 

 birds. The Sky-lark has had many admirers, and 

 its grateful notes, ascending as they appear to do 

 to the very heavens, in order to celebrate the 

 praises of its Maker, have been sung by poets in 

 all ages. 



The sky-lark * * * ,* like a guest 



Singing to other spheres, is lost in light, 



Till, fondly lured, she turns her faithful breast 



Downward through fields of blue. The warbling strain 



Near and more near she swells ; then hushed again, 



Falls like a shadow from the sunny dome/f* 



Waller, also, gives a pretty description of the 

 lark rising upon the wing on a sunny day. 



The lark that shuns on lofty boughs to build 



Her humble nest, lies silent in the field ; 



But if the promise of a cloudless day, 



Aurora, smiling, bids her rise and play, 



Singing, she mounts ; her airy wings are stretched 



Towards heaven, as if from heaven her notes she fetched. 



Nor should the following affecting lines of Henry 

 Kirke White be omitted, in which he contrasts 



* MlSS HORD. f MRS. CONDER. 



