45 



Explores the river bed, with practiced skill, 

 Tries every hole, and rakes o er every hill 

 Then drinks again, then pulls, a little space ; 

 Now rakes the mud, then tries another place ; 

 Now blames his luck, as do all fishermen, 

 Then paddles, drinks, rakes, pulls, and swears again. 

 At length, beneath, the hardened shell reveals 

 The destined prey, which gainst the rake he feels ; 

 Then, with a jerk, constricts the iron teeth, 

 And draws the ravished shell-fish from beneath. 



So have I seen, on fair Italia s- shore, 

 Basking in sun by old Cathedral door, 

 Some anxious matron, steadfast, bending o er 

 Her nature s jewels, and with care explore 

 The stock capillary on each tangled pate, 

 In search of what doth nimbly animate 

 Its mazes ; that she may depopulate 

 Of creeping tenants groping, now, she spies 

 Some rash invader marks him for her prize 

 With dexterous digits, nips th unwary one, 

 And drags, in triumph, from his hirsute home. 



