XVI 



A SYMPHONY OF SPRING 



the midsummer sun shines on the fields Ids powerful voice 

 is no longer heard in the nii^/it. Earlier yet than lie the 

 ^varblers have ceased their song. One bird alone , the 

 chattering warbler utters its deafening, vulgar melopceia, 

 among the willows by the river bathed, in sunshine ; its 

 noisy music rises above the glistening watei's, above the 

 transparent blaze of the fiery atmosphere, while down 

 tjonder, aniom^ the ripe cherries of the orchard the gold- 

 finch drinlxs in the perf\iined juice, scarcely able to throw 

 out three fhite-like, lisping notes. These are the last song- 

 sters of the season, and their .w,n,-ivarmed strains end the 

 « Symphony of spring ». 



