38 



While thus for knowledge greedy they appear, % 



Or to the crackling billets lend an ear, V 



Insnare with nets, or fix 'em with a spear. * 



Still other arts your leisure may employ, . 

 Amusement yield, nor all the race destroy: 

 On the green margin dark secluded stand 

 A taper angle waving in your hand; 

 The wand'ring prey with choicest bait invite, 

 And fatal steel conceal'd by art from sight, f 



Once 



* " The glow-worme shining in a frosty night, 

 Is an admirable thing in shepheard's sight. 

 Twentie of these wormes put in a small glasse, 

 Stopped so close that no issue doe passe; 

 Hang'd in a bow-net and suncke to the ground, 

 Of a poole, or lake, broad, and profound : 

 Will take such plentie of excellent fish, 

 As well may furnish an Emperor's dish.*' 



Breton's Ouranu, 

 f To ANGLERS. 



" O take away that wily, treach'rous hook ! 

 Why are the harmless tenants of the brook 



(Secure, poor things, till now, amongst each other) 

 To be of cold barbarity the sport ? 

 Perhaps each fish that from the flood you court, 



May mourn its parents kind a sister brother. 

 It makes Humanity, sweet maiden ! weep 

 To see the wanton spoi tives of the deep 



Torn from the pleasures of their silv'ry bed : 

 It makes her sigh, to mark the dipping float 

 The hidden captive's agony denote, 



And all its sweet and social comforts fled. 

 I love to see the gudgeon and the bream 

 Thread the wild mazes of their native stream, 



And unmolested through each thicket stray j 

 I love to see the dace, in shining pride, 

 Now rush amidst the fierce, impetuous tide, 



And now upon the tempting surface play. 



The 



