37 



And swells the streams admiring, without rain,, 

 To see their waves roll swiftly to the main. 



Meanwhile the wand'ring fish swims up and down 

 Confus'd, and when the stream is almost gone, 

 Still follows the remains; whom, from the lake 

 Sliding, the wicker snares a captive make : 

 Here with his much-lov'd stream, his life he leavec, 

 And his last parting breath the air receives. 



Lest the whole breed should undistinguish'd die, 

 Take the small fish that at the bottom lie, 

 In a new pond the little wand'rers place ; 

 And there preserve the hopes of all the race. 

 They swim surpris'd, the vacant lakes survey, 

 And all their father's wat'ry empire sway. 



The ponds now drain'd, the cautious eel lies roll'd 

 Deep in the mud, and wound in many a fold. 

 While here he lurks, conceal'd beneath the ooze, 

 With griping hand the smooth deceiver close 3 * 

 Lest he, like fortune, when you think the prey 

 Securely your's, should subtly glide away. 



No sweeping drag-net should the race alarm, 

 That through your streams, congenial breeding swarm; 

 Lest you destroy young natives of the flood, 

 And all your fruit prove blighted in the budj 

 Bow nets still use; or, in a darksome night, 

 Fires on the margin of the river light j 

 Struck with the dazzling flame, neer seen before, 

 Surpris'd they slow approach the shining shore; 



* Sero sapiunt Phryges. 



The prouerbe saieth, so longe the potte to water goes, 

 That at the lengthe it broke returnes, which is appli'de to those, 

 That longe with wyles, and shiftes, haue cloaked wicked partes, 

 Whoe haue at lengthe bene paied home, and had their iust deserte* j 

 Euen as the slymie eele, that ofte did stippe awaie, 



Yet, with figge leaucs at lengthe was catch' de fc made the fisshers praie." 



Geffrey Whitney'i Emblems, 1586. 



While 



