Nothing can be compared,he maintains,with the first cockcrow

1.glinting是定语修饰sun,glint（闪烁）和sun是主动关系,所以加ing
2.不可写成nothing can compare ,nothing和compare是被动关系、
上句话可写成：Nothing can be compared with the first cockcrow,the twittering of birds at dawn,the sight of the rising sun glinting on the trees and pastures,he maintains.
或he maintains nothing can be compared with the first cockcrow,the twittering of birds at dawn,the sight of the rising sun glinting on the trees and pastures
.