

BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 91 



unexpected transition, — now seeming to renew the 

 ;ame strain, — ^then deceiving expectation ! She 

 5ome times seems to murmur within herself, — ^full, 

 ieep, swift, trembling, — now at the top, the mid- 

 ile, and the bottom of the scale. In short, in that 

 ittle bill seems to reside all the melody which 

 nan has vainly laboured to bring from a variety 

 )f musical instruments. Some even seem to be 

 )ossessed of a different song from the rest, and 

 hey contend with great vigom' ; and the bird over- 

 ;ome is seen only to discontinue its song with its 

 ife." 



In all countries where this delightftd songster 

 s found, it is held in the greatest estimation. It 

 s celebrated in the lyrical and amatory poetry of 

 ;he Persians. Hafiz, (the Burns or Moore of 

 Persia,) in his odes, has sung its fame in such a 

 5weet, tender strain, that it can only be equalled by 

 the melting melody of the tird whose praise he 

 sings. In that country, the poetical attachment 

 3f the bulbul (or nightingale) to the rose is es- 

 teemed an emblem of the purest love. 



Nightingales appear jealous of other songsters, — 

 are fond of musical contention, — ^and seem to be 

 aware of their own excellence; — never losing an op- 

 portunity of proving it, — not yielding the palm of 



