II 



If in the stream a craggy rock there lies, 

 Thither the finny race for shelter flies : 

 This from the rising water may be known, 

 Which breaks in bubbles, by the fishes blown j 



Reclln'd their weary limbs : hard by were laid 

 Baskets, and all their implements of trade, 

 Rods, hooks, and lines, compos' d of stout horse-hairi, 

 And nets of various sorts, and various snares, 

 The seine, the cast-net, and the wicker maze, 

 To waste the watery tribes a thousand ways : 

 A crazy boat was drawn upon a plank j 

 Matts were their pillow, wove of osier dank j 

 Skins, caps, and rugged coats, a covering made ; 

 This was their wealth, their labour, and their trade, 

 No pot to boil, no watch dog to defend, 

 Yet blest they liv'd with penury their friend. 

 [The one relates.] 



Methought I sat upon a shelfy steep, 



And watchM the fish that gambolM in the deep i 



Suspended by my rod, I gently shook 



The bait fallacious, which a huge one took j 



(Sleeping, we image what awake we wish; 



Dogs dream of bones, and fishermen offish j) 



Bent was my rod, and from his gills the blood 



With crimson stream distain'd the silver flood, 



I stretch'd my arm out, lest the line should break ; 



The fish so vigorous, and my hook so weak ! 



Anxious 1 gaz'd j he struggled to be gone j 



You're wounded I'll be with you, friend, anon' 



< Still do you tease me ?' for he plagu'd me sore j 



At last, quite spent, I drew him safe on shore, 



Then grasp'd him with my hand for surer hold, 



A noble prize, a fish of solid gold. 



. Go search the shoals, not sleeping, but awake, 



Hunger will soon discover your mistake ; 



Catch real fish ; you need not sure be told 



Those fools must starvs who only dream of gold." 



Fawkcs's Theocritus, Idyl, xxi. 



If 



