The Compleat ^Angler 



Or a leverock build her nest: 

 Here, give my weary spirits rest, 

 And raise my low-pitched thoughts above 

 Earthy or what poor mortals love: 



Thus, free from lawsuits and the noise 

 Of princes' courts, I would rejoice ; 



Or, with my Bryan and a book, 



Loiter long days near Shawford brook ; 



There sit by him, and eat my meat ; 



There see the sun both rise and set; 



There bid good morning to next day ; 



There meditate my time away; 

 And angle on, and beg to have 

 A quiet passage to a welcome grave. 



When I had ended this composure, I left this place, and saw a 

 brother of the angle sit under that honeysuckle hedge (one that will 

 prove worth your acquaintance) : I sat down by him, and presently 

 we met with an accidental piece of merriment, which I will relate to 

 you ; for it rains still. 



On the other side of this very hedge sat a gang of gipsies, and 

 near to them sat a gang of beggars. The gipsies were then to divide 

 all the money that had been got that week, either by stealing linen 

 or poultry, or by fortune-telling, or legerdemain, or indeed by any 

 other sleights and secrets belonging to their mysterious government. 

 And the sum that was got that week proved to be but twenty and 

 some odd shillings. The odd money was agreed to be distributed 

 amongst the poor of their own corporation ; and for the remaining 

 twenty shillings, that was to be divided unto four gentlemen gipsies, 

 according to their several degrees in their commonwealth. 



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