1 6 The Complete Angler 



ployment, 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 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 

 particular seasons, as namely the Laverock, the 

 Tit-lark, 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 musick out of her little in- 

 strumental 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 des- 

 cants, the natural rising and falling, the doubling 

 and redoubling of her voice, might well be lifted 

 above earth, and say, " Lord, what musick hast 

 thou provided for the Saints in Heaven, when 

 thou affordest bad men such musick 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 reck- 

 oned 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 use. I think it is not to be doubted that 

 Swallows have been taught to cany letters between 

 two armies ; but 'tis certain that when the Turks 

 besieged Malta or Rhodes, I now remember not 

 which it was, Pigeons are then related to carry and 

 recarry letters : and Mr. G. Sandys, in his Travels^ 



