10 PLEASURES OF ORNITHOLOGY. 



His note, and now, in strain original. 

 Excites the woods to listen. 



Go YE thence, 

 At solemn midnight when the woods are still — 

 When Zephyr deigns to sleep, and not a sound 

 Is heard, save distant watch dog's, or that bird 

 Of Strigid (*) group, dire, ominous once deem'd, 

 In her dark ivied ruin, hooting hoarse, 

 What time the radiant moon rides o'er the earth 

 In glory, and the stars look through fair clouds 

 Of fleecy silver, while they slowly glide 

 Across the deep blue concave; — go YE then 

 To some dark copse, or distant quiet glade, 

 And listen to that loud melodious strain 

 Of warbling music which along the void 

 Of night is borne, and to the astonish'd ear, 

 Perchance with echo aiding, such delight 

 Pours, as hath ne'er by aught of mortal mould 

 Elsewhere been felt ; and say YE, if ye can. 

 That he, of all the sylviads of the grove, 

 The Nightingale^ for man attunes his song — 

 For only man! — That modest bird who shrinks 

 From the broad glare of day, in umbrage hides 

 Himself, and, rarely seen, beside her nest 



(') Strigid group, birds of the Owl tribe. 



