42 THE COMPLETE ANGLEK. 



other blessings attending upon it. Sir, this was the saying 

 of that learned man. 



And I do easily believe, that peace and patience, and a 

 calm content, did cohabit in the cheerful heart of Sir Henry 

 Wotton ; because I know that w^hen he was beyond seventy 

 years of age, he made this description of a part of the present 

 pleasure that possessed him, as he sat quietly in a summer's 

 evening, on a bank a-fishing. It is a description of the spring ; 

 which because it glided as soft and sweetly from his pen, as 

 that river does at this time, by which it was then made, I 

 shall repeat it unto you : 



This day dame Nature seern'd in love ; 



The lusty sap began to move ; 



Fresh juice did stir th' embracing vines ; 



And birds had drawn their valentines. 



The jealous trout, that low did lie, 



Hose at a well-dissembled fly ; 



There stood my friend, with patient skill, 



Attending of his trembling quill ; 



Already were the eaves possessed 



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. 



Joan takes her neat-rubbed pail, and now 

 She trips to milk the sand-red cow ; 

 Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, 

 Joan strokes a syllabub or twain. 

 The fields and gardens were beset 

 With tulip, crocus, violet ; 

 And now, though late, the modest rose 

 Did more than half a blush disclose. 



Thus all looks gay and full of cheer, 



To welcome the new-liveried year. 



These were the thoughts that then possessed the undis- 

 turbed 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. 



