The Compleat ^Angler 



Their fate oft make the tale seem true. 

 'The sick or sullen hawk, to-day 

 Flies not ; to-morrow, quite away. 

 Patience and purse to cards and dice 

 Too oft are made a sacrifice : 

 The daughter s dower, th* inheritance 

 O' tti son, defend on one mad chance. 

 The harms and mischiefs which the abuse 

 Of wine doth every day produce, 

 Make good the doctrine of the Turks, 

 That in each grape a devil lurks. 

 And by yon fading, sapless tree, 

 "Bout which the ivy twin d you see, 

 His fate V foretold, who fondly places 

 His bliss in woman s soft embraces. 

 All pleasures, but the angler's, bring, 

 r tTi tail, repentance like a sting. 



Then on these banks let me sit down, 



Free from the toilsome sword and gown, 



And pity those that do affect 



To conquer nations and protect. 



My reed affords such true content, 



Delights so sweet and innocent, 



As seldom fall into the lot 



Of sceptres, though they re justly got. 



Tho. Weaver, Mr. of Arts. 



T0 the Readers of my most ingenious Friends 

 The Compleat Angler. 



He that both knew and writ the lives of men, 

 Such as were once, but must not be again : 

 Witness is matchless Donne and Wotton, by 

 Whose aid he could their speculations try : 



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