266 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



much too long to extract in eztenso. I must, however, 

 give the first part : — 



' Is it not a wonder that so lowd and cleere a voice should 

 come from so little a bodie ? Is it not as straunge that she 

 should hold her wind so long and continue with it as shee 

 doth ? Moreover, shee alone in her song keepeth time and 

 measure truely ; shee riseth and falleth in her note just with 

 the rules of musicke and perfect harmonic ; for the while in 

 one entire breath she draweth out her tune at length treat- 

 able ; another while she quavereth and goeth away as fast in 

 her running points ; sometimes shee makes stops and short 

 cuts in her notes ; another time shee gathereth in her wind 

 and singeth descant between the plaine song ; she fetcheth her 

 breath againe, and you shall have her in her catches and 

 divisions ; anon all on a sodaine, before a man would think it, 

 she drowneth her voice that one can scarce heare her, and then 

 shee seemeth to record to herself, and then shee breaketh out 

 to sing voluntarie. In summe, she varieth and altereth her 

 voice to all keys ; one while full of her largs, longs, briefes, 

 semibriefes, and minims ; another while in her crotchets, 

 quavers, semiquavers, and demisemiquavers ; for one time you 

 shall heare her voice full and lowd, another time as low ; and 

 anon shrill and high ; thick and short when she list, drawne 

 out at leisure againe when she is disposed ; and then (if shee 

 be so pleased) she riseth and mounteth up aloft as it were with 

 a wind-organ,' etc., etc., (x. 30). 



A bird that gives us such music as this may not only 

 plead for a place in our gardens for herself, but also for 

 her fellow-birds, however mischievous they may be. 



