24 TJie Secrets of Angling. 



And thou sweet Boyd"" that with thy Wcitry s\va\', 

 Dost wash the cUffes of Beiiigton and of Weeke ; 

 And through their Rockes with crooked winding way, 

 Thy mother Aiion runnest soft to seeke : 

 In whose fayre streames the speckled Troui doth play, 

 The Roc/ie, the Dace, the Gndgin, and the Bleeke. 



Teach me the skill with slender Line and Hooke 

 To take each Fish of Riuer, Pond, and Brooke. 



THE TIME FOR PROVIDING ANGLE RODS. 



First, when the Sunne beginneth to decline 

 Southward his course, with his fayre Chariot bright, 

 And passed hath of Heauen the middle Line, 

 That makes of equall length both day and night ; 

 And left behind his backe the dreadfull signe, 

 Of cruell Centma-e, slaine in drunken fight. 



When Beasts do mourne, and Birds forsake iheir song, 

 And euerv Creature thinkes the night too \owg. 



And blustring Boreas with his chilling cold, 

 Vnclothed hath the Trees of Sommers greene ; 

 And Woods, and groues, are naked to behold, 

 Of Leaues and Branches now dispoyled cleane : 

 So that their fruitfull stocks they doe vnfold, 

 And lay abroad their of-spring to be seene ; 



Where nature shewes her great increase of kinde 

 To such as seeke their tender shutes to finde. 



Then goe into some great Arcadiati wood, 



Where store of ancient Hazels doe abound ; 



And seeke amongst their springs and tender brood ; 



Such shutes as are the straightest, long, and round : 



And of them all (store vp what you thinke good) 



But fairest choose, the smoothest, and most sound ; 



So that they doe not two yeares growth exceed, 

 In shape and beautie like the Belgkke Reed. 



1 The name of a Brooke. 



