BIRDS. 



313 



mer nights, when the Dipper, the Sedge- warbler, and above 

 all, the Nightingale, are awake, and pouring forth rich and 

 solemn melody. " He that at midnight," says Izaak Walton, 

 " when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I 

 have very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the na- 

 tural rising and falling, the doubling and redoubling of her 

 voice, might well be lifted up above earthe, and say, Lord, 

 what musicke has Thou provided for Thy saints in heaven, 

 when Thou affordest bad men such musicke upon earthe ! " 



One might make a volume with extracts from the poets 

 in honour of the Nightingale — from Homer, who fancies 

 her wailing and mourning her woes, down to Coleridge, 

 who considers it high treason against common sense to 

 suppose there is anything melancholy in Nature. 



"We have learn'd 

 A different lore : we may uot thus profane 

 Nature's sweet voices, always full of love 

 And joyance ! 'Tis the merry Nightingale, 

 That crowds, and hurries, and precipitates 

 With fast, thick warble his delicious notes, 

 As he were fearful that an April night 

 Would be too short for him to utter forth 

 His love -chant, and disburthen his full soul 

 Of all its music ! . . . . 

 . . . . . Far and near, 

 In wood and thicket, over the wide grove, 

 They answer and provoke each other's songs. 

 With skirmish and capricious passagings, 

 And murmurs musical, and swift jug, jug; 

 And one low, piping sound, more sweet than all, 

 Stirling the air with such an harmony, 

 That should you close your eyes, you might almost 

 Forget it was not day." 



The Mocking-bird [Orpheus polyglottus) of the Western 

 World, rivals the Nightingale in the compass, mellowness, 

 and brilliant execution of its song, which it also delights to 



