CHAP. i. THE FIRST DAY. 41 



There stood my friend, with patient skill, 

 Attending of his trembling quill; 

 Already were the eaves possess'd 

 With the swift pilgrim's daubed nest ; 

 The groves already did rejoice 

 In Philomel's triumphing voice, 

 The showers were short, the weather mild, 

 The morning fresh, the evening smiled. 



Jqan takes her neat-rubbed pail, and now 

 Shejrips to milk the sand-red cow ; 

 Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, 

 Toan~sTfoires a syTfaBub or twain. 

 TheJTelds qnd gardens were beset 

 A Vithtulij^ crocus, violet; 

 And now^though late, the modest rose 

 bttSh disclose. 



Thus all looks gay and full of cheer, 

 To welcome the new-liveried year." 



These were the thoughts that then possessed the undisturbed 

 mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will you hear the wish of another 

 angler, and the commendation of his happy life, which he also 

 sings in verse? viz., Jo. Davors, Esq.: 



" Let me live harmlessly; and near the brink 

 Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place, 



Where I may see my quill or cork down sink 

 With eager bite of perch, or bleak, or dace; 



And on the world and my Creator think: 



Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t' embrace, 



And others spend their time in base excess 



Of wine, or worse, in war and wantonness. 



Lt them that list, these pastimes still pursue, 

 And on such pleasing fancies teed Ihelt fill ; 



So I the fields and meadows green may view, 

 And daily by fresh rivers walk at will, 



Among the daisies_and the violets blue, 

 Red hyacinth and yellow daffodil, 



Purple narcissus like the morning rays, 



Pale gander-grass, and azure culverkeys. 



