124 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART I. 



if I might be judge. " God never did make a more calm, quiet, 

 innocent recreation than Angling." 



I '11 tell you, Scholar, when I sat last on this primrose-bank, 

 and looked down these meadows, I thought of them as Charles 

 the Emperor did of the city of Florence, " that they were too 

 pleasant to be looked on, but only on holy-days " : as I then sat 

 on this v^ry grass, I turned my present thoughts into verse : 't 

 was a Wish, which I '11 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 bank, feel the west wind 

 Breathe health and plenty ; please my mind 

 To see sweet dew-drops kiss these flowers, 

 And then washed off by April showers : 



Here, hear my Kenna sing * a song ; 



There, see a blackbird feed her young, 



Or a leverock build her nest ; 



Here, give my weary spirits rest, 



And raise my low-pitched thoughts above 



Earth, or what poor mortals love : 



Thus free from lawsuits, and the noist 

 Of 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 : 



* Like Hermit poor. 



