SOARING AND SINGING. 135 



What thou art we know not ; 

 What is most like thee ? 



From rainbow clouds there flow not 

 Drops so bright to see 

 As from thy presence showers a rain of melody." * 



The bird which could inspire such thoughts as these is 

 indeed noteworthy, and that poets in all ages have singled 

 it out as an especial favourite, can be no matter of 

 surprise. 



Who does not remember those beautiful lines of 

 Wordsworth ? 



" Leave to the nightingale her shady wood ; 



A privacy of glorious light is thine, 

 Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood 



Of harmony, with instinct more divine ; 

 Type of the wise, who soar but never roam 

 True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home !" 



But to return to Shakespeare. Perhaps no bird has 

 received more notice at his hands than the one now under 

 consideration. To enumerate all the passages in which it 

 is mentioned, would probably only weary the reader. In 

 addition to those already named, " the shrill-gorg'd lark " 

 is alluded to in King Lear (Act iv. Sc. 6) ; while to sing 

 " as sweetly as the lark " has passed into a proverb 

 (Merchant of Venice, Act v. Sc. i). 



Shelley. 



