38 i&bt <&tnttt\ i&ecrcatfon* 



Cloy'd with my pleasure, still my cares renew, 

 And Angling, all my Joys, I daily still pursue 

 Till Winter came, and Boreu's stubborn wind, 

 With flakes of Snow and Ice, the earth and 



water joyn'd, 

 Like Twins, that from one womb tho both 



proceed, 



Have different virtues at their different need. 

 For when the River's froze as hard as stone, 

 And all the Fishes, there Imprison'd, mourn ; 



Another game 1 us'd to find, 

 Where Duck and Mallard multiply'd their kind 

 And since my sport of Angling was debar'd, 

 Something I'd have, or else I thought it hard; 



One Element just turn'd to stone, 

 If that the other could afford me none : 



Three tedious Months of Winter weather, 

 All sorts of Wild Fowl Heaven sent me thither, 

 I ne'er Examined whence they came, nor going 



whether ; 

 For if in sixty yards, or little more, 



Whether in the Air, or on the shore, 

 I little car'd, all one it was to me, 

 If with advantage then I could deliver free* 

 Some scores of Wild Fowl there I fairly shot, 

 Some for the Spit, and some were for the 

 Pot; 



Of 



