BOOK X.] History of Nature. 217 



Things that deserve Admiration : it is, indeed, among the 

 first, that such a Voice should come from so very little a 

 Body, as well as such a persevering Breath. Then the Tone is 

 given out, modulated according to the one perfect Science of 

 Music; for a while in one entire Breath she draweth out her 

 Tune at length; now it is varied in Inflections; sometimes it 

 is distinguished by Stops ; it is united by entwining, it is 

 extended in being drawn back ; on a sudden it is drowned : 

 now and then she records to herself full, grave, sharp, short, 

 drawn out where she sees fit; vibrating, high, middle, low. 

 In short, there is not any manufacture of a Pipe so exqui- 

 sitely contrived by the Art of Man that can accomplish such 

 a Variety of Things as proceed out of that little Throat of 

 hers. So that no doubt this Sweetness was foreshown by a 

 powerful Presage, when it sang in the Mouth of the Infant 

 Stesichorus. 1 And that no Man may doubt that it is the 

 Effect of Art, there is not one Nightingale but hath many 

 Tunes, and each one his own peculiar one. They strive who 

 can do best ; and it is evident that they contend with all 

 their Heart ; for often she that is conquered ends her Life in 

 the Contest, and yieldeth up her Breath sooner than her 

 Song. The young Nightingales study the others, and under- 

 stand the Lessons which they imitate. The Scholar listens 

 with close Attention, and rehearseth what she hath heard ; 

 and both of them repeat it over by turns. The Correction of 

 what is amended is understood ; and also something of Re- 

 proof in the Teacher. Therefore one of these Nightingales 

 obtains the Price of a Slave; yea, indeed, more than might 

 in old Time have bought an Armour-bearer. I myself have 

 known one of them, which also was white, a Circumstance 

 not commonly seen, to have been sold for 6000 Sesterces, to 

 to be given as a Present to Agrippina, Wife of the Prince 

 Claudius. And now of late we have seen many of them 

 begin to sing at command ; and to take their turn in Sym- 

 phony. Also Men have been found, who, by placing Reeds 

 across, and adding some Water, blowing into an Hole with 



1 An ancient Greek poet, whose works are lost. Wern. Club. 



