24 



The trout loves rivers in obscure retreats j 

 Thrown into standing water, she forgets 

 Her former beauty, and neglects her love, 

 And all the flesh will then insipid prove ; 

 From hence remember,, with a timely care, 

 For trout a running water to prepare: 

 Near some wide river's mouth a place provide, 

 And with smooth grass and turf adorn the side; 

 Let the clear bottom shining gravel show, 

 And gently murm'ring o'er smooth pebbles flow. 

 This situation always grateful proves, 

 For still the trout a murm'ring current loves, 

 And still the same desires her bosom warm, 

 Nor has she chang'd her manner with her form:* 



For 



* The following extract from a raoikrn poern disguised with antique 

 temblance, is too appropriate to the history of the trot to be omitted. 



* When atop the hoary western hill, 



The ruddie sun appears to rest his chin, 

 When not breezo disturbs the murmuring rill, 

 And mild.ie warm the falling dewes begin, 

 The gamesome trout then ahows her silverie skin, 

 As wantonly beneath the wave she glides, 



Watching the buzzing flies, that never blin, 

 Then, dropt with pearle and golde, displays her sides, 

 While she with frequent leaps the ruffled streaxne divides. 



On the green bank a truant school-boy stands ; 



Well has this urchin mark* her mery play, 

 And ashen rod obeys his guileful hands, 



And leads the mimick fly across her way j 



Askaunce, with listly look and coy delay, 

 The huogri* trout the glltteraund treachor eyes, 



Semblznt of life, with- speckled wings so gay> 

 Then, slyly nibbling, prudish from it flies, 

 "Till with a bouncing start she bite* the truthless pri*c. 



Ah, then the youhker gives the fatefull twitch j 

 Shuck with amaze she feels the hook ypright 



Deeps 



