240 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



which you shall see the picture of this good man's 

 mind ; and I wish mine to be like it. 



" No empty hopes, no courtly fears him fright, 

 No begging wants his middle-fortune bite, 

 But sweet content exiles both misery and spite, 

 His certain life, that never can deceive him, 



Is full of thousand sweets and rich content ; 

 The smooth-leaved beeches in the field receive him 



With coolest shade, till noontide's heat be spent: 

 His life is neither tossed in boisterous seas, 

 Or the vexatious world, or lost in slothful ease : 

 Pleased and full blessed he lives, when he his God can 

 please. 



44 His bed, more safe than soft, yields quiet sleeps, 



While by his side his faithful spouse hath place ; 

 His little son into his bosom creeps, 



The lively picture of his father's face. 

 His humble house or poor state ne'er torment him : 

 Less he could like, if less his God had lent him ; 

 And when he dies, green turfs do for a tomb content 

 him." 



Gentlemen, these were a part of the thoughts 

 that then possessed me. And I there made a 

 conversion of a piece of an old catch, and added 

 more to it, fitting them to be sung by us anglers. 

 Come, master, you can sing well ; you must sing a 

 part of it as it is in this paper. 



THE ANGLER'S SONG. 



Man's life is but vain ; 

 For 't is subject to pain 

 And sorrow, and short as a bubble; 



