The Compleat ^Angler 



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 anglers. Come, 

 master, you can sing well ; you must sing a part of it as it is in 

 this paper. 



Man's life is but vain, for "'tis subject to pain 



And sorrow, and short as a bubble; 



'Tis a hodgepodge of business, and money, and care, 



And care, and money, and trouble. 



But we'' II take no care when the weather proves fair ; 



Nor will we vex now, though it rain; 



We'll banish all sorrow, and sing till to-morrow 



And angle, and angle again. 



PETER. Ay, marry, sir, this is music indeed : this has cheered my 

 heart, and made me to remember six verses in praise of music, which 

 I will speak to you instantly. 



Music ! miraculous rhetoric, that speakest sense 



Without a tongue, excelling eloquence ; 



With what ease might thy errors be excused, 



Wert thou as truly loved as tbou'rt abused! 



But though dull souls neglect, ana some reprove thee, 



I cannot hate thee ''cause the angels love thee. 



VEN. And the repetition of these last verses of music has called 

 to my memory what Mr. Ed. Waller (a lover of the angle) says of 

 love and music. 



Whilst I listen to thy voice, 

 Chloris, I feel my heart decay : 



That powerful voice 

 Calls my fleeting soul away : 

 O suppress that magic sound, 

 Which destroys without a wound! 

 2IO 



