Note 1080 — Chapter I · THE ELDER PLINY: FLAVIAN SCIENCE AND HISTORY
Reading edition
N.H., X. 81-82: “tanta uox tam paruo in corpusculo ... in una perfecta musica scientia modulatus editur sonus.” The lavish measure of Holland’s paraphrase is apparent here: three Latin words, infuscatur ex inopinato, become “anon all of a sudden, before a man would think it, she drowneth her words that one can scarce hear her.” His “descant between the plain song” and “crotchets, quavers, semiquavers and double semiquavers” add to the general effect of rich freedom in his tribute to the bird.