THE JED— JAMES THOMSON. 151 



Ednam, where, on the banks of the Eden, Thomson was 

 born. The poet could not miss being an angler, reared 

 as he was by the side of the Jed, and it was doubtless 

 the remembrance of his boyish exploits that prompted 

 his admirable description of fly-fishing, in " Spring:'' 



" Just in the dubious point, where with the pool 

 Is mixed the trembling stream, or where it boils 

 Around the stone, or from thehollow'd bank 

 Reverted, plays in undulating flow : 

 There throw, nice judging, the delusive fly; 

 And as you lead it round in artful curves. 

 With eye attentive mark the springing game. 

 Straight as above the surface of the flood 

 They wanton rise, oi', urged by hunger, leap, 

 Then fix with gentle twitch the barbed hook. 

 Some lightly tossing to the grassy bank, 

 And to the shelving shore slow dragging some, 

 With various hand proportioned to their force. 

 If yet too young and easily deceived 

 A worthless prey scarce bends your pliant rod, 

 Him, piteous of his youth, and the short space 

 He has enjoyed the vital light of heaven. 

 Soft disengage, and back into the stream 

 The speckled captive throw. But should you lure 

 From his dark haunt beneath the tangled roots 

 Of pendent trees, the monarch of the brook, 

 Behoves you then to ply your finest art. 

 Long time he, following cautious, scans the fly, 

 And oft attempts to seize it, but as oft 

 The dimpled water speaks his jealous fear. 

 At last, whilst haply o'er the shaded sun 

 Passes a cloud, he desperate takes the death 

 With sullen plunge. At or.ce he darts along, 

 Deep-struck, and runs out all the lengthened line. 

 Then seeks the farthest ooze, the sheltering weed, 

 The caveru'd bank, his old secure abode; 

 And flies aloft, and flounces round the pool. 

 Indignant of the guile. With yielding hand, 

 That feels him still, yet to liis furious course 



