THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I* 



When thou wilt swim in that live bath, 

 Each fish, which ev'ry channel hath, 

 Most am'rously, to thee will swim, 

 Gladder to catch thee than thou him* 



If thou, to be so seen, be'st loath, 



By sun, or, moon : thou dark'nest both ; 



And if mine eyes liave leave to see, 



I need not their light, having thee. 



Let others freeze with angling reeds, 

 And cut their legs with shells and weeds j 

 Or, treach'rously poor fish beset, 

 With straggling snares, or windowy net ; 



Let coarse bold hands, from slimy uest, 

 The bedded fish in banks outwrestj 

 Let curious traitors sleave silk flies, 

 To 'witch poor wand'ring fishes e^es. 



For thee: Thou need'st no such deceit ; 

 For thou, thyself, art thine own bait, 

 That fish that is not catcht thereby, 

 Is wiser far, alas, than I, 



Pise. Well remembered, honest scholar L I thank 

 you for these choice verses ; which I have heard for- 

 merly, but had quite forgot, till they were recovered by 

 your happy memory. Well! being I have now rested 

 myself a little, I will make you some requital, by tell- 

 ing you some observations of the Eel ; for it ruins still : 

 and because, as you say, our angles are as money put 

 to use, that thrives when we play; therefore, we'll sit 

 still, and enjoy ourselves a little longer under this honey- 

 suckle-hedge. 



