of birds, very agreeably : but we were still at a loss 

 for a polysyllabical, articulate echo, till a young- gen- 

 tleman, who had parted from his company in a sum- 

 mer evening walk, and was calling after them, stum- 

 bled upon a very curious one in a spot where it 

 might least be expected. At first he was much sur- 

 prised, and could not be persuaded but that he was 

 mocked by some boy ; but, repeating his trials in 

 several languages, and finding his respondent to be 

 a very adroit polyglot, he then discerned the de- 

 ception. 



This echo in an evening, before rural noises 

 cease, would repeat ten syllables most articulately 

 and distinctly, especially if quick dactyls were chosen. 

 The last syllables of 



" Tityre, tu patulse recubans — — — — " * 



were as audibly and intelligibly returned as the first ; 

 and there is no doubt, could trial have been made, 

 but that at midnight, when the air is very elastic, 

 and a dead stillness prevails, one or two syllables 

 more might have been obtained ; but the distance 

 rendered so late an experiment very inconven- 

 ient. 



Quick dactyls, we observed, succeeded best ; for 

 when we came to try its powers in slow, heavy, 



* " Beneath the shade which beechen boughs diffuse 

 You, Tityrus, entertain your sylvan muse." 



(Dryden's Virg. Eel. i. i.) 

 90 



