SOARING AND SINGING, 135 
What thou art we know not ; 
What is most like thee ? 
From rainbow clouds there flow not 
Drops so bright to see 
As from thy presence showers a rain of melody.” * 
The bird which could inspire such thoughts as these is 
indeed noteworthy, and that poets in all ages have singled 
it out as an especial favourite, can be no matter of 
surprise. 
Who does not remember those beautiful lines of 
Wordsworth — 
“ Leave to the nightingale her shady wood ; 
A privacy of glorious light is thine, 
Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood 
Of harmony, with instinct more divine ; 
Type of the wise, who soar but never roam— 
True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home!” 
But to return to Shakespeare. Perhaps no bird has 
received more notice at his hands than the one now under 
consideration. To enumerate all the passages in which it 
is mentioned, would probably only weary the reader. In 
addition to those already named, “the shrill-gorg’d lark ” 
is alluded to in King Lear (Act iv. Sc. 6); while to sing 
“as sweetly as the lark” has passed into a proverb 
(Merchant of Venice, Act v. Sc. 1). 
* Shelley. 
