Part 14 (2/2)

When dispersed on the Alps, the cattle are collected together by the voice of the Senn, who is then said to allure them. How well these cows distinguish the voice of their keeper, appears from the circ.u.mstance of their hastening to him, although at a great distance, whenever he commences singing the _Ranz des Vaches_.

This celebrated air is played on the bagpipes, as well as sung by the young Swiss cowherds while watching their cattle on the mountains. The astonis.h.i.+ng effects of this simple melody on the Swiss soldier, when absent from his native land, are thus described by Rousseau:

”Cet air, se cheri des Suisses qu'il fut defendu sous peine de mort de le jouer dans leurs troupes, parce qu'il faisait fondre en larmes, deserter, ou mourir, ceux qui l'entendaient, tant il excitait en eux l'ardent desir de revoir leur pays. On chercherait en vain dans cet air les accens energetiques capables de produire de si etonnans effets. Ces effets, qui n'ont aucun lieu sur les etrangers, ne viennent qui de l'habitude, des souvenirs de mille circonstances qui, retracees par cet air a ceux que l'entendent, et leur rappellant leur pays, leurs anciens plaisirs, leur jeunesse, et toutes leur facons de vivre, excitent en eux une douleur amere d'avoir perdu tout cela. La musique alors n'agit point precis.e.m.e.nt comme musique, mais comme signe memoratif. Cet air, quoique toujours le meme, ne produit plus aujourd'hui les memes effets qu'il produisait ci-devant sur les Suisses, parce qu'ayant perdu le gout de leur premiere simplicite, ils ne la regrettent plus quand on la leur rappelle. Tant il est vrai que ce n'est pas dans leur action physique qu'il faut chercher les plus grand effets des sons sur le coeur humain.”

For the delectation of the musical reader, the notes of this celebrated air are here introduced, with the words, and an English imitation:

AIR SUISSE

Appelle le RANZ DES VACHES.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Musical notation]

The words are as follows:--

Quand reverai-je en un jour, Tous les objets de mon amour, Nos clairs ruisseaux, Nos hameaux, Nos coteaux, Nos montagnes, Et l'ornament de nos montagnes, La si gentille Isabeau?

Dans l'ombre d'un ormeau, Quand danserai-je au son du Chalameau?

Quand reverai-je en un jour, Tous les objets de mon amour, Mon pere, Ma mere, Mon frere, Ma soeur, Mes agneaux, Mes troupeaux, Ma bergere?

IMITATED.

When shall I return to the Land of the Mountains-- The lakes and the Rhone that is lost in the earth-- Our sweet little hamlets, our villages, fountains, The flour-clad rocks of the place of my birth?

O when shall I see my old garden of flowers, Dear Emma, the sweetest of blooms in the glade, And the rich chestnut grove, where we pa.s.s'd the long hours With tabor and pipe, while we danced in the shade?

When shall I revisit the land of the mountains, Where all the fond objects of memory meet: The cows that would follow my voice to the fountains, The lambs that I called to the shady retreat: My father, my mother, my sister, and brother; My all that was dear in this valley of tears; My palfrey grown old, but there's ne'er such another; My dear dog, still faithful, tho' stricken in years: The vesper bell tolling, the loud thunder rolling, The bees that humm'd round the tall vine-mantled tree: The smooth water's margin whereon we were strolling When evening painted its mirror for me?

And shall I return to this scenery never?

These objects of infantine glory and love,-- O tell me, my dear Guardian Angel, that ever Floats nigh me,--safe guide to the regions above.

SYNOPTICAL TABLE OF HABITAT

Buffalo--_Bos Bubalus_ Asia, North Africa, and South Europe.

Manilla Buffalo Island of Manilla.

Condore Buffalo Island of Pulo Condore.

Cape Buffalo South Africa.

Pega.s.se Congo, Angola, Central Africa.

Arnee India and China.

Gaur India.

American Bison North America.

Aurochs Lithuania.

Yak Tartary and Hindustan.

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