CHAP. v. THE FOURTH DAY. gi 



the emperor did of the city of Florence, " That they were too 

 pleasant to be looked on, but only on holidays/' As 1 then lat 

 orTlliib very^grass, I turned my present thoughts into verse: 

 'twas a wish, which I'll repeat to you. 



THE ANGLER'S WISH. 



I in these flowery meads would be : 



These crystal streams should solace me ; 



To whose harmonious bubbling noise 



I with my angle would rejoice, 

 Sit here, and see the turtle dove 

 Court his chaste mate to acts of love : 



Or, on that hank, feel the west wind 

 Breathe health and plenty: please my mind. 

 To see sweet dewdrops kiss these flowers, 

 And then wash'd off by April showers ; 

 Here, hear my Kenna sing a song ; l 

 There, see a blackbird feed her young, 



Or a leverock build her nest : 



Here, give my weary spirits rest, 



And raise my low-pitch'd thoughts above 



Earth, or what poor mortals love : 

 Thir, f Crnm J ^ nml the noise 

 Qf princes' courts, I would rejoice ; 



Or, with my Bryan and a book, 



Loiter long days near Shawford brook ; 



There sit by him, and eat my meat; 



There see the sun both rise and set ; 



There bid good morning to next day; 



There meditate my time away ; 

 And angle on, and beg to have 

 A quiet passage to a welcome grave* 



had endffll *kjfL composure, I left this place, and saw 

 a brother of the angle_j>it under that honeysuckle hedge, one 

 that will prove worth your acquaintance: I sat down by him, 



1 Like Hermit Poor. 



