172 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



And if mine eyes have leave to see, 

 J need not their light, having thee. 



Let others freeze with angling-reeds. 

 And cut their legs with shells and weedsy 

 Or treachWously poor fish beset. 

 With strangling snares, or windowy net : 



Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest. 

 The bedded fish in banks outwrest ; 

 Let curious traitors sleave silk flies. 

 To 'witch poor wandering fishes eyes : 



For thee, thou need'st no such deceit, 

 For thou thyself art thine own bait : 

 That fish that is not catch' d thereby. 

 Is wiser, far, alas! than I* 



Pisc. Well remembered, honest Scholar ; I thank you for 

 these choice verses, which 1 have heard formerly, 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 telling you some observations of the eel ; for it rains 

 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 honeysuckle hedge. 



* This is the song already referred to as having been written by Donne 

 in imitation of Kit Marlowe's. There are some verbal variations from 

 Donne's own version, particularly " enamelled" for " enamored," in the 

 third line of the second verse. Some of Donne's earlier poems have a 

 most startling freedom as compared with his general character. — fm. Ed. 



