THE RAVEN. 173 



comix ;" and in a tame state it has attained a very 

 long life. How long extended its existence may 

 be, when roaming in an unrestricted state, we have 

 no means of ascertaining. This liberty may be 

 most favourable to longevity; yet, from the nu- 

 merical contingencies attending the condition of 

 these creatures, it is probable that few of them live 

 out all their days, so as to become the " bird of 

 ages." However, the supposed longevity they 

 have attained, their frequent mention and agency 

 in Holy Writ, the obscure knowledge we possess of 

 their powers and motives, with the gravity of their 

 deportment, like an " all-knowing bird," have 

 acquired for them, from very remote periods, the 

 veneration of mankind. The changes in our man- 

 ners and ideas, in respect to many things, have 

 certainly deprived them of much of this reverence ; 

 yet the almost supernatural information which they 

 obtain of the decease, or approaching dissolution, 

 of an animal, claims still some admiration for them. 

 This supposed faculty of " smelling death" for- 

 merly rendered their presence, or even their voice, 

 ominous to all, as 



The hateful messengers of heavy things, 

 Of death and dolour telling ; 



and the unusual sound of their harsh croak, still, 

 when illness is in the house, with some timid and 

 affectionate persons, brings old fancies to remem- 

 brance, savouring of terror and alarm. I am no 

 friend to the superstition of converting natural 

 transactions, or occasional events, into signs and 



