THE HERALD OF THE MORN. 131 



lark been named the " bird of dawn." Shakespeare has 

 made frequent allusion to the early rising of the lark : — 



" I do hear the morning lark." 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act iv. Sc. 1 . 



" It was the lark, the herald of the morn." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Sc. 5. 



" The busy day, 

 VVak'd by the lark, hath rous'd the ribald crows." 



Troilus and Cressida, Act iv. Sc. 2. 



" Lo, here the gentle lark, weary of rest, 

 From his moist cabinet mounts up on high, 

 And wakes the morning, from whose silver breast 

 The sun ariseth in his majesty." 



Venus and Adonis. 



Milton's allusion to the early singing of this bird will be 

 familiar to all : — 



" To hear the lark begin his flight, 

 And, singing, startle the dull night, 

 From his watch-tower in the skies, 

 Till the dappled dawn doth rise." 



U Allegro. 



While every musician must remember the song in 

 Cymbeline, adapted to music since Shakespeare's day by 

 an eminent composer : — 



