AK ADDRESS TO THE AUTHOR. 89 



LINES 



TO THE AUTHOR BY A GENTLEMAN OF MACCLESF1 K I, I). 



My friend, for friend I hold him who, 

 Votery of Isaac Walton true, 

 Can write on streams and choice of flies, 

 Of colours bright and mingled dyes. 



Need I assure you, Sir, that I, 

 Since I could throw, have lov'da fly ; 

 Or that for pike and river trout, 

 I've always kept a sharp look out ? 



Needs it to tell, that, ere the sun 

 Has half its annual circle run, 

 With rod in hand and brimful heart, 

 I for the river's margin start ? 



And mark what time the dark blue dun, 

 Its dusky wings waves in the sun, 

 For then I know that sport is rife 

 The'essence of thesportman's life. 



O men of hope ! a partridge rump 

 Is plucked to wing the freckled stump ; 

 Indue succession next come down, 

 The iron blue and dark March brown. 



The husk and greentail next appear, 

 Disporting on the waters clear ; 

 The yellow dun and grey sand fly 

 Ill-fated tribes ! their care must ply. 



Nor ply in vain, for oft the trout, 

 Is springing with his eager snout, 

 And seizing on his destin'd prey, 

 Then backward makes his sullen way. 



