40 



But soon returns the odour to regain, 



And winds in circles through the wat'ry plain; 



Thus heedless moths display their painted wings, 



And flutter round the flame which sure destruction brings 



Meanwhile the boys, attentive, scarce appear 



To breathe, by turns inflam'd with hope and fear; 



Now certain, now despairing of their prize, 



On this alone they fix their greedy eyes; 



At length fear yields to hunger, and the bait 



He credulously swallow the deceit 



Soon by his blood discovering, he in vain 



Attempts to void the hook and ease the pain ; 



When, from his mouth the steel he would withdraw, 



Deeper the steel is rooted in his jaw; 



The fisher jerks his rod, with nimble hand, 



And throws the mullet gasping on the sand ; 



He, looking on the river in despair, 



Leap'd slightly twice or thrice into the air, 



But when his strength unable now he- found 



To lift his ponderous body from the ground, 



Flapping his tail upon the bank in death 



He struggling panted and resign'd his breath; 



Not one there was of all that there appear' d, 



But touch'd the fins and gently strok'd the beard. 



Here then a boy, that stood upon the strand, 



Thus with a tale amus'd the youthful band: 



Barbus, whose name was from his beard deriv'd, 



Had almost at an hundred years arriv'd; 



Now weak with ge and stooping to the ground, 



His brow was rugged and with wrinkles crown'd : 



His mouth was wide, his feeble head hung down, 



His teeth were lost, his hands were bony grown $ 



Thick on his chin a bunch of hair remain'd, 



And his weak steps a knotty staff sustain'd. 



Oft, in his youthful years near streams he stood, 



And cast his lines and nets into the flood. 



And 



