378 



THE ANGLER. 



FROM 



BROWNE'S BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS. 



THE following curious sketch, evidently drawn from the 

 life, has been added for the gratification of the lovers of the 

 gentle art of Angling : 



Now as an angler, melancholy standing 

 Upon a greene bancke yeelding roome for landing, 

 A wrigling yealow worme thrust on his hooke, 

 Now in the midst he throwes, then in a nooke : 

 Here pulls his line, there throws it in againe, 

 Mending his croke and baite, but all in vaine, 

 He long stands viewing of the curled streame ; 

 At last a hungry pike, or well-growne breame, 

 Snatch at the worme, and hasting fast away, 

 He, knowing it a fish of stubborne sway, 

 Puls up his rod, but soft, (as having skill,) 

 Wherewith the hooke fast holds the fishe's gill. 

 Then all his line he freely yeeldeth him, 

 Whilst furiously all up and downe doth swimme 

 Th' insnared fish, here on the toppe doth scud, 

 There underneath the banckes, then in the mud ; 

 And with his franticke fits so scares the shole, 

 That each one takes his hide, or starting hole : 

 By this the pike cleane wearied, underneath 

 A willowe lyes, and pants, (if fishes breathe,) 



