154 The Complete Angler 



PlSCATOR. But, scholar, have you nothing to mix 

 with this discourse, which now grows both tedious 

 and tiresome? Shall I have nothing from you, 

 that seem to have both a good memory and a 

 cheerful spirit? 



VENATOR. Yes, master, I will speak you a copy 

 of verses that were made by Doctor Donne, and 

 made to shew the world that he could make soft 

 and smooth verses, when he thought smoothness 

 worth his labour: and I love them the better, 

 because they allude to Rivers, and Fish and Fish- 

 ing. 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 whispering run, 

 Warm'd by thy eyes more than the sun ; 

 And there the enamePd 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, beest loath 

 By sun or moon, thou dark'nest 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 wand'ring fishes' eyes. 



