8o The " Qiialities of an Angler? 



With all her fraight, her tackling, and her load 

 Attending still the winde and wished tide, 

 Which when it serves, no longer makes abode, 

 But forth into the watry deepe doth slide, 



And through the waves divides her fairest 

 way 



Unto the place where she intends to stay. 



"So must the angler be provided still, 

 Of divers tooles, and sundry baytes in store ; 

 And all things else pertaining to his store ; 

 Which he shall get and lay up long before, 

 That when the weather frameth to his will, 

 He may be well appointed evermore 

 To take fit time whan it is offered ever, 

 For time in one estate abideth never." 



Very charming and musical in Dennys' 

 verses are the two last lines of each, form- 

 ing, as they often do, a refrain or burden 

 of the whole. Much as I should like to 

 quote the whole of the twelve " qualities 

 of an angler," I must, for want of space, 

 confine myself to one or two. One might 

 imagine that Dennys knew what it was to 

 stalk a wary Test or Itchen trout on a 

 bright day in June, to judge from the fol- 

 lowing verse describing his fifth quality : 



" The fifth good gift is low Humilitie, 

 As when a lyon coucheth for his pray 

 So must he stoope or kneele upon his Knee, 

 To save his line or put the weeds away, 

 Or lye along sometime if neede there be, 

 For any let or chance that happen may, 

 And not to scorne to take a little paine, 

 To serve his turne his pleasure to obtaine." 



