WILLOW. 269 



somewhat low, yet sweetly varied song of this small bird, 

 when he rises singing from among my branches, near 

 which his mate sits patiently on her nest within some 

 hollow, which time or else the burrowing rabbit has formed 

 in a neighbouring bank. 



" Upon a tuft of willow trees, 

 That twinkled to the gusty breeze, 

 Behold him perched in ecstasies, 

 Yet seeming still to hover ; 



" There, where the flutter of his wings 

 Upon his back and body flings 

 Shadows and sunny glimmerings, 

 That cover them all over. 



" While thus before my eyes he gleams, 

 A brother of the leaves he seems, 

 When in a moment forth he teems 

 His little song in gushes ; 



" As if it pleased Mm to disdain 

 The voiceless form he chose to feign, 

 While he was dancing with the train 

 Of leaves among the bushes." 



