OF SELBORNE. 



29 



much surprised, 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 deception. 



This echo in an evening, before rural 

 noises cease, vs^ould repeat ten syllables 

 most articulately and distinctly, especially 

 if quick dactyls were chosen. The last 

 syllables of 



" Tityre, tu patulae 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 incon- 

 venient. 



Quick dactyls, we observed, succeeded 

 best ; for when we came to try its powers 

 in slow, heavy, embarrassed spondees of 

 the same number of syllables, 



" Monstrum horrendum^ informe, ingens— — *' 



we could perceive a return but of four- or 

 five. 



