Denny 's' Invocation. 71 



charming invocation to the water nymphs 

 to lend their aid and power to his verse : 



" You Nymphs that in the Springs and Waters 



sweet, 



Your dwelling have, of every Hill and Dale, 

 And oft amidst the meadows greene doe meet 

 To sport and play, and heare the Nightingale ; 

 And in the Rivers fresh doe wash your feet, 

 While Prognes* sister tels her wofull tale : 

 Such ayde and power unto my verses lend 

 As may suffice this little worke to end." 



Then follow directions as to the best 

 time of year to select and cut woods for 

 rods : of these he prefers the hazel. 



" For not the brittle Cane, nor all the rest, 

 I like so well, though it be long and light, 

 Since that the Fish are frighted with the least 

 Aspect of any glittering thing, or white : 

 Nor doth it by one halfe so well incline, 

 As doth the plyant rod to save the line." 



Anglers have ever been particular as 

 to the shape of hook they prefer some 

 like a round bend, some an oval, some a 

 mixture of square and round, and other 

 variations of in-turned point, out-turned 

 point, side twist, or "sneck," etc. These 

 various shapes are named after the places 

 at which they were originally made ; 



* Procne's sister Philomela. Procne was 

 turned into a swallow and Philomela into a 

 nightingale. 



