THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 43 



becomes a sad object to all that loved and beheld 

 him, and in an instant turns to putrefaction. 



Nay, more : the very birds of the air, those that 

 be not hawks, are both so many and so useful and 

 pleasant to mankind that I must not let them pass 

 without some observations. They both feed and 

 refresh him ; feed him with their choice bodies, 

 and refresh him with their heavenly voices (I 

 will not undertake to mention the several kinds of 

 fowl by which this is done), and his curious palate 

 pleased by day, and which with their very excre- 

 ments afford him a soft lodging at night. These I 

 will pass by, but not those little nimble musicians 

 of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties, 

 with 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 em- 

 ployment, grows then mute and sad to think she 

 must descend to the dull earth, which she would 

 not touch but for necessity. 1 



How do the blackbird and thrassel with their 

 melodious voices bid welcome to the cheerful 



1 Ethereal minstrel ! pilgrim of the sky ! 



Dost thou despise the earth where cares abound? 

 Or, while the wings aspire, are heart and eye 

 Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground ? 

 Thy nest which thou canst drop into at will, 

 Those quivering wings composed, that music still ! 



WORDSWORTH . To a Skylark. 



