A UTHORS ON SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 53 



" His Rod, or Cane, made darke for being scene, 

 The lesse to feare the warie Fishe withall : 

 The Line well twisted is, and wryught so cleane 

 That being strong, yet doth it shew but small, 

 His Hooke not great, nor little, but betweene, 

 That light vpon the watry brimme may fall, 



The Line in length scant halfe the Rod exceedes. 

 And neither Corke, no Leade thereon it needes." 



His description of gudgeon-fishing also stands now, if 

 we only substitute a " Tliames punt " for the " little boate," 

 and for a " pole " the " small-tooth combe," as the Thames 

 professionals call the " gudgeon-rake." 



" Loe, in a little Boate where one doth stand 

 That to a Willow Bough the while is tide, 

 And with a pole doth stirre and raise the sand ; 

 Where as the gentle streame doth softly glide, 

 And then with slender Line and Rod in hand, 

 The eager bit not long he doth abide. 



Well Leaded is his Line, his Hooke but small, 

 A good big Corke to beare the stream withall. 



" His baite the least red worme that may be found 

 And at the bottome it doth alwayes lye ; 

 Whereat the greedy Goodgion bites so sound 

 That Hook and all he swalloweth by and by : 

 See how he strikes, and puis them vp as round 

 As if new store the play did still supply. 



And when the bit doth dye or bad doth proue 



Then to another place he doth remoue. 



" This fish the fitted for a learner is 

 That in the Art delights to take some paine ; 

 For as high flying Haukes that often misse 

 The swifter foules, are eased with a traine, 

 So to a young beginner yeeldeth this, 

 Such readie sport as makes him proue again 

 And leads him on with hope and glad desire, 

 To greater skill, and cunning to aspire." 



It is curious to notice the variations from the first edition 



