THE NIGHTINGALE. 292 
which said plainly, ‘I am free, and I have wings; against me thou 
canst do nothing. But I am very willing to sing for thee.’ 
‘““We had a succession of severe storms at breeding-time, and on 
one occasion the thunder rolled near us. No scene can be more 
affecting than the approach of these moments: the air fails; fish rise 
to the surface in order to breathe a little; the flower bends languidly ; 
everything suffers, and tears flow unbidden. I could see clearly that 
his feelings were in unison with the general distress. From his 
bosom, oppressed Jike mine, broke a kind of hoarse sob, like a 
wild ery. 
“But the wind, which had suddenly risen, now plunged into our 
woods; the loftiest trees, even the cedar, bent. Torrents of rain 
dashed headlong, all was afloat. What became of the poor little nest, 
exposed on the ground, with no other shelter than the periwinkle’s 
leaf? It escaped; for when the sun reappeared, I saw my bird 
flying in the purified air, gayer than ever, with his heart full of 
song. All the world of wings then hymned the light; but he more 
loudly than any. His clarion voice had returned. I saw him be- 
neath my window, his eye on fire and his breast swollen, intoxi- 
