DR. DARWIN. 247 



" ears/' to denote the a<5l of liftening. 

 Perhaps that chara&eriftic had been better 

 omitted, fmce it belongs to brute, not to 

 human animals, and is at war with the 

 imaginary grace of thefe twilight forms. 

 The Moon paufes, and the Stars ihoot from 

 their fpheres to liften. That laft circum- 

 ftance is evidently from Shakefpear's alle- 

 gory in The Midfummer Night's Dream, 

 alluding to the confpiracies formed in favor 

 of the imprifoned Queen of Scotland, by 

 the Duke of Norfolk, and other noblemen 

 of the court of Elizabeth. This is the 

 allegory : 



I faw a Mermaid on a Dolphin's back 

 Uttering fuch dulcet and harmonious founds, 

 That tlje rude fea grew civil at her fong, 

 And certain ftars ihot madly from their fpheres, 

 To hear the Sea-Maid's mufic. 



That he might guard againft the dif- 

 pleafure of Elizabeth for this fally, it is 

 immediately followed by as high an allego- 

 ric compliment paid to herfelf. 



R 4 On 



