26 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



which nature hath furnished them to the shame 

 of art. 



As first the lark, when she means to rejoice, to cheer 

 herself and those that hear her ; she then quits the 

 earth, and sings as she ascends higher into the air, and 

 having ended her heavenly employment, grows then 

 mute and sad, to think she must descend to the dull 

 earth, which she would not touch, but for necessity. 



How do the blackbird and thrassel [thrush] with their 

 melodious voices bid welcome to the cheerful spring, 

 and in their fixed months warble forth such ditties as 

 no art or instrument can reach to ! 



Nay, the smaller birds also do the like in their par- 

 ticular seasons, as namely the leverock, the titlark, 

 the little linnet, and the honest robin, that loves mankind 

 both alive and dead. 



But the nightingale, another of my airy creatures, 

 breathes such sweet loud music out of her little instru- 

 mental throat, that it might make mankind to think 

 miracles are not ceased. He that at midnight, when the 

 very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have 

 very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the natural 

 rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her 

 voice, might well be lifted above earth, and say, " Lord, 

 what music hast thou provided for the saints in 

 heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music on 

 earth ? " 



And this makes me the less to wonder at the many 

 aviaries in Italy, or at the great charge of Varro's aviary, 

 the ruins of which are yet to be seen in Rome, and is 

 still so famous there, that it is reckoned for one of those 

 notables which men of foreign nations either record, 

 or lay up in their memories, when they return from 

 travel. 



This for the birds of pleasure, of which very much 

 more might be said. My next shall be of birds of political 



