The Secrets of Angling. 57 



Or when land flouds through long and sudden raine, 



Discending from the hills and higher ground, 



The sand and mud the cristall streames doe staine, 



And make them rise aboue their wonted bound, 



To ouer flow the fields and neighbour plaine, 



The fruitfull soyle and Meadowes faire are drownd, 



The husbandman doth leese his grasse and hay, 

 The bankes their trees, and bridges borne awav. 



So when the leaues begin to fall apace, 

 And bough and braunch are naked to be scene, 

 While nature doth her former worke deface, 

 Vnclothing bush, and tree, of summers greene, 

 Whose scattered spoiles lye thicke in euery place, 

 As sands on shore or starres the poles betweene, 

 And top and bottome of the riuers fill, 

 To Angle then I also thinke it ill. 



All windes are hurtfull if too hard they blow, 



The worst of all is that out of the East, 



Whose nature makes the Fish to biting slow, 



And lets the pastime most of all the rest ; 



The next that comes from countries clad with Snow, 



And Articque pole is not offensiue least, 



The Southern winde is counted best of all, 



Then, that which riseth where the sunne cloth fall. 



BEST TIMES AND SEASONS TO ANGLE. 



Bvt if the weather stedfast be and cleare, 

 Or ouercast with clouds, so it 'be dry, 

 And that no signe nor token there appeare, 

 Of threatning storm through all the empty skie, 

 But that the ayre is clnme and voide of feare, 

 Of ruffling windes or raging tempests hie, 



Or that with mikle and gentle gale they blow, 

 Then it is good vnto the brooke to goe. 



