176 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



when he thought smoothness worth his labour ; and I 

 love them the better because they allude to rivers, and 

 fish and fishing. They be these : 



Come live with me, and be my love, 

 And we will some new pleasures prove, 

 Of golden sands and crystal brooks, 

 With silken lines and silver hooks. 



There will the river whisp'ring run, 

 Warm'd by thy eyes more than the sun ; 

 And there th' enamell'd fish will stay, 

 Begging themselves they may betray. 



When thou wilt swim in that live bath, 

 Each fish, which every channel hath, 

 Most amorously to thee will swim, 

 Gladder to catch thee, than thou him. 



If thou to be so seen be'st loath, 

 By sun or moon, thou darkenest both ; 

 And if mine eyes have leave to see, 

 I need not their light, having thee. 



Let others freeze with angling-reeds, 

 And cut their legs with shells and weeds, 

 Or treacherously poor fish beset 

 With strangling snares, or windowy net : 



Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest, 

 The bedded fish in banks outwrest ; 

 Let curious traitors sleave silk flies, 

 To 'witch poor wandering fishes' eyes : 



For thee, thou need'st no such deceit, 

 For thou thyself art thine own bait : 

 That fish that is not catch'd thereby 

 Is wiser far, alas 1 than I. 



Pise. Well remembered, honest scholar ; I thank you 

 for these choice verses, which I have heard formerly, 

 but had quite forgot, till they were recovered by your 



