xlix 



TO MY HONOUR'D FRIEND, 

 CAPTAIN R. F. 



AUTHOR OF THE 



Contemplative 



ATLAS IVe seen, and I have read your book, 

 Where ev'ry argument's a line and hook 

 To catch the curious reader ; let him throw 

 But to surprize the fish, he's surprizM too. 

 For whilst in shady streams the anglers watch 

 To catch the fish, the silly purdues catch'd. 

 Nay I have seen, when I have seen you spread 

 The trembling streams with neither silk nor thread, 

 That you with horse-hair upon throwing in, 

 Has fish surpriz'd that never wagg'd a fin. 

 Mussles in Trent, I've seen them leave the water, 

 And swim ashore as if 'twere them you sought for. 

 Cheese after meat prohibits other dishes, 

 And after shell-fish rarely other fishes. 

 Now anglers look about you, whilst you draw 

 Your game ashore, and preach the common-law 

 Of destiny, as if it were a favour 

 To sentence death beyond all good behaviour : 

 You know not but your selves in project may 

 Be angled for, whilst you devour the prey. 

 If so, the fisher with the fish takes share, 

 And both alike their fortunes equal are. 



RICHARD JOHNSON. 



