178 THE nightingale's song. 



out of her little instrumental throat, that it might make 

 mankind to think that miracles are not ceased. He that 

 at midnight, when the very labourer sleeps so securely, 

 should hear, as I have very often heard, 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 provided for 

 saints in heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music 

 on earth r" 



As for the character of its song, it seems to be accurately 

 described by Coleridge, when he speaks of 



" The merry nightingale, 

 That crowds, and hurries, and precipitates, 

 With fast thick warble, his delicious notes. 

 As he were fearful that an April night 

 Would be too short for him to utter forth 

 His love-chant, and disburden his full soul 

 Of all its music." 



That is the impression which the nightingale's song pro- 

 duces : it is so full and rich and copious — so prodigal, as 

 it were ; as if the bird could scarcely find time to measure 

 its strain or regulate its utterance. Note follows note 

 with an exuberant rapture j and the melody now sinks, 

 now swells — now wanders into a plaintive minor key — 

 now breaks out into a glorious burst of joyousness — now 

 quivers and trembles with subdued emotion — now flows 

 like a s^\dft and abundant stream — in such wise that no 

 words can hope to do it justice. 



The nightingale makes its appearance in England about 

 the middle of April ; the males first arriving, and then 

 their mates. Having selected their partners, they proceed 



