V22 ANGLING. 



The perch with pricking fins, against the pike prepared, 



As nature liad thereon bestowed this stronger guard, 



His daintiness to keep (eacli curoius palate's proof) 



From liis vile ravenous foe : next him I name the ruff, 



His very near ally, and both for scale and fin, 



In taste, and for his bait (indeed) his next of kin, 



The pretty slender dare, of many called the dace, 



Within my liquid glass, when Phoebus looks his face, 



Oft swiftly as he swims, his silver belly shows, 



Bat with such nimble flight, that ere ye can disclose 



His shape, out of your sight like lightning he is shot ; 



The trout by nature marked with many a crimson spot, 



As though she curious were in him above the rest, 



And, of fresh-water fish, did note him for the best ; 



The roach, whose common kind to every flood doth fall ; 



The chub (whose neater name which some a chevin call), 



Food to the tyrant pike (most being in his power), 



Who for their numerous store he most doth them devour; 



The lusty salmon then, from Neptune's watery realm, 



When as his season serves, stemming my tideiul stream, 



Then being in his kind, in me his pleasure takes 



(For whom the fisher then all other game forsakes), 



Which, bending of himself to the fashion of a ring, 



Above the forced wears, himself doth nimbly fling, 



And often when the net hath dragged him safe to land, 



Is seen by natural force to 'scape his murderer's hand ; 



Whose grain doth rise in flakes, with fatness interlarded, 



Of many a liquorish lip, that highly is regarded. 



And Humber, to whose waste I pay my watery store, 



Me of her sturgeons sends, that I thereby the more 



Should have my beauties graced with something from him sent : 



Not Ancum's silvered eel excelleih that of Trent ; 



Though the sweet-smelling smelt be more in Thames than me, 



The lamprey, and his lesse, in Severn general be; 



The flounder smooth and flat, in other rivers caught, 



Perhaps in greater store, yet better are not thought : 



The dainty gudgeon, loche, the minnow, and the bleak, 



Since they but little are, I little need to speak 



Of them, nor doth it fit me much of those to reck, 



Which everywhere are found in every little beck ; 



Nor of the crayfish here, which creeps amongst my stones. 



From all the rest alone, whose shell is all his bones : 



For carp, the tench, and bream, my other stores among, 



To lakes and standing pools that chiefly do belong, 



Here scouring in my fords, feed in my waters clear, 



Are muddy fish, in ponds, to that which they are here/ 5 



But great as the praise is, which is justly due to the waters of Severn, 

 we would not think of recommending a metropolitan angler to pay it 



