ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 57 



Then the author gives instructions as to the 

 season and time not to angle : 



First, if the weather be to dry and hot, 



Or that it seem'd Apollo had forgot 



His light foote steedes to rule with stedfast raine. 



He condemns all cold winds and high floods, also 

 the time when the trees are stript of their leaves in 

 autumn : 



All windes are hurtfull if too hard they blow, 



The worst of all is that out of the East, 



Whose nature makes the Fish to biting slow, 



And lets the pastime most of all the rest ; 



The next that comes from countries clad with Snow, 



And Articque pole is not offensive least, 



The Southern winde is counted best of all, 

 Then, that which riseth where the sunne doth fall. 



In turn we are instructed as to the best time and 

 season to angle : 



But if the weather stedfast be and cleare, 



Or overcast with clouds, so it be dry, 



And that no signe nor token there appeare, 



Of threatning storm through all the emptie skie, 



But that the ayre is calme and voide of feare, 



Of ruffling windes or raging tempests hie, 



Or that with milde and gentle gale they blow, 

 Then it is good unto the brooke to goe. 



And when the flouds are fall'n and past away, 

 And carried have the dregges into the deepe, 

 And that the waters waxe more thin and gray, 

 And leave their bankes above them high and steepe, 



