Dunton, John (1659-1732)

A Voyage Round the World: or, a Pocket-Library, Divided into several Volumes.

London

Printed for Richard Newcome

1691

"But while I was admiring their Skill and Harmony, I was so ravish'd with their Charming Musick; that cou'd you believe it, That I fell stark asleep under the Tree, and my Mind being full of the Idea's which were in my Head, e're I fell asleep, they seem'd still to continue their Discourse, which now I understood better so than while waking, warbling out between 'em this following Song--in Stylo recitativo."

But as we are jogging it along for London (before he was Dead all this was) what shou'd we light upon in the fide of a warm Hedge, but of all the Birds i'the Sky--my Brother Cuckoo!--Was n't that a very strange thing, Brother Critick?--No truly, not strange at all--but what follows is stranger--over against this Hedge was another Hedge, and in that Hedge over against this Hedge was an old Ivy-Bush, and in that Ivy-Bush was an Owl.--Now, it being towards Evening, and a fine Summers Evening 'twas as one shou'd see in a Summers Day, what do's the Cuckoo but crys--Cuc-koo? what do's the Owl but fall a laughing and Whittoow-hooing? what do I but stand still, and let my Horse graze between 'em both to hear their melody? If you are any thing learned, I'm sure you have heard of Apollonius's understanding the Sparrows Language, and why may not I as well the Owls and Cuckoos--O thought I wi' my self, what a brave Recorder that Cuckoo's Bill wou'd make? and then the Owls wou'd do for a Flagilet, to a wonder--But while I was admiring their Skill and Harmony, I was so ravish'd with their Charming Musick; that cou'd you believe it, That I fell stark asleep under the Tree, and my Mind being full of the Idea's which were in my Head, e're I fell asleep, they seem'd still to continue their Discourse, which now I understood better so than while waking, warbling out between 'em this following Song--in Stylo recitativo--But now I think on't, tho' I understood it, you won't, and therefore I'll not be at the pains and charge of having new Characters cast to express their Language; for it neither begins from the left to the right as ours, nor from the right to the left as the Eastern, nor from top to bottom, nor bottom to top, as others--nor any way else that you or I can imagine, because 'twas inarticulate, and no language at all. Don't call this trifling, for 'tis all in order to describe the loveliest Trees, Hedge and Field t'ye that you ever saw or heard of.
(I.vi, p. 125)

Container

C-H Lion

John Dunton, A Voyage Round the World: or, a Pocket-Library, Divided into several Volumes. The First of which contains the Rare Adventures of Don Kainophilus, From his Cradle to his 15th. Year. The like Discoveries in such a Method never made by any Rambler before. The whole Work intermixt with Essays, Historical, Moral and Divine; and all other kinds of Learning. Done into English by a Lover of Travels. Recommended by the Wits of both Universities. 3 vols. (London: Printed for Richard Newcome, 1691). <Link to EEBO-TCP>

06/18/2013