Page:Singular adventures of Sir Gawen, and the enchanted castle.pdf/17

17 woods, and now with deep and mellow symphony it swelled upon the gale. Fixed in astonishment, Sir Gawen scarce ventured to breathe, every sense save that of hearing, seemed quite absorbed. and when the last faint warblings melted on his ear, he started from the foot, solicitous to know from what Being, those more than human strains had parted: but nothing appeared in view, the moon full and unclouded, shone with unusual lustre, the white rocks glittered in her beam, and filled with hope, he again pursued the windings of the water, which conducting to the narrowed parts of the valley continued their course thro' the wood Sir Gawen entered by a path, smooth but narrow and perplexed where although its branches were so numerous that no preferment could be given, or any direct route long presisted in. yet every turn presented something to amuse, something to sharpen the edge of research. The beauty of the trees through whole interstices the moon gleamed in the most picturesque manner: the glimpses of the water, and the notes of the nightingale, who now began to fill the valley with her song, were more than sufficient to take of the sense of fatigue, and he wandered on still eager to explore, still panting for further discovery,. The wood now became more thick, and obscure, and at