78 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



The meadows fair, where Flora's gifts among 



Are intermixed with verdant grass between ; 

 The silver-scaled fish that softly swim 

 Within the sweet brook's crystal watery stream. 



"All these, and many more of His creation 



That made the heavens, the Angler oft doth see 

 Taking therein no little delectation, 



To think how strange, how wonderful, they be ! 

 Framing thereof an inward contemplation, 



To set his heart from other fancies free ; 

 And whilst he looks on these with joyful eye, 



His mind is rapt above the starry sky," 



Sir, I am glad my memory has not lost these 

 last verses, because they are somewhat more pleas- 

 ant and more suitable to May- day than my harsh 

 discourse. And I am glad your patience hath 

 held out so long as to hear them and me, for both 

 together have brought us within the sight of the 

 Thatched House ; and I must be your debtor, if 

 you think it worth your attention, for the rest of 

 my promised discourse, till some other opportun- 

 ity and a like time of leisure. 



Ven. Sir, you have angled me on with much 

 pleasure to the Thatched House ; and I now find 

 your words true, that " good company makes the 

 way seem short : " for trust me, sir, I thought we 

 had wanted three miles of this house till you 

 showed it to me. But now we are at it, we '11 turn 

 into it, and refresh ourselves with a cup of drink 

 and a little rest. 



Pise. Most gladly, sir ; and we '11 drink a civil 



