The Compleat ^Angler 



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 excrements 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 employ- 

 ment, 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 leverock, the titlark, 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 music out of her little instrumental throat, that it might 

 make mankind to think miracles are not ceased. He that at mid- 

 night, when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have 

 very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the natural rising and 

 falling, the doubling and redoubling of her voice, might well be 

 lifted above earth, and say, " Lord, what music hast Thou pro- 

 vided for the saints in heaven, when Thou affordest bad men such 

 music on earth ? " 



And this makes me the less to wonder at the many aviaries in 

 Italy, or at the great charge of Varro his aviary, the ruins of which 

 are yet to be seen in Rome, and is still so famous there, that it is 

 reckoned 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 'tis 



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