CHAPTER IV 



IN the same year in which Dennys' poem appeared, 

 Britannic? $ Pastorals were written by William 

 Browne. 



The title-page of the first edition of Britannia's 

 Pastorals is undated, but the introductory verses 

 to the reader are addressed from the Inner Temple, 

 i8th June 1613. 



These poems contain (p. 105) the following verses 

 descriptive of angling for pike : 



Now as an Angler melancholy standing 

 Upon a greene bancke yeelding roome for landing, 

 A wrigling yealow worme thrust on his hooke. 

 Now in the midst he throwes, then in a nooke : 

 Here puls his line, there throwes it in againe, 

 Mendeth his Corke and Baite, but all in vaine, 

 He long stands viewing of the curled streame ; 

 At last a hungry Pike, or well-growne Breame 

 Snatch at the worme, and hasting fast away 

 He knowing it, a Fish of stubborne sway 

 Puls up his rod, but soft : (as hauing skill) 

 Wherewith the hooke fast holds the Fishes gill. 

 Then all his line he freely yeeldeth him, 

 Whilst furiously all up and downe doth swimme 

 Th' insnared Fish, here on the toppe doth scud, 

 There underneath the banckes, then in the mud ; 



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