Scene 3. Page 72.
Hark, hark, the lark at heaven's gate sings.
The frequent mention of the lark, especially among our older poets, has been already exemplified in a variety of corresponding passages with the above, which either Shakspeare might have imitated, or which are imitations from him. To these the following may be added:—
"On morowe tho the dai sprong
And the larke bigan her song."
Romance of Sir Oluel. MS.
"Even at the twelyght in the dawnynge
Whan the larke of custome gynneth synge
For to salue in her heavenly laye
The lusty goddesse of the morowe graye."
Lydgate's Sege of Troye, B. i.
"Whan the larke messager of day
Of custome aye Aurora doth salue,
With sondry notes hir sorowe to transmue,
Or Phebus ryse to joye and gladnesse."
Lydgate's Sege of Troye, B. iii.
"Upsprang the golden candle matutyne,
With cleir depurit bemys chrystallyne,
Glading the mirry fowlis in thair nest:
Or Phebus was in purpour kaip revest
Upsprang the lark, the hevene's mynstral syne
In may intill a morrow mirth fullest."
Dunbar's Golden terge.
"With merry note her loud salutes the mounting lark."
Spenser's Fairy queen, B. I. Canto xi. st. 51.
"Early, cheerful, mounting lark,
Light's gentle usher, morning's clerk,
In merry notes delighting;
Stint awhile thy song, and hark,
And learn my new inditing.
"Bear up this hymn, to heav'n it bear
E'en up to heav'n, and sing it there," &c.
Davies's Acrostick hymns, 1599.