THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



'Qfyt 'angler's 5:01x5. 



As inward love breeds outward talk, 

 The hound some praise, and some the hawk ; 

 Some, better pleased with private sport, 

 Use tennis ; some a mistress court : 



But these delights I neither wish 



Nor envy, while I freely fish. 



Who hunts, doth oft in danger ride ; 

 Who hawks, lures oft both far and wide ; 

 Who uses games, shall often prove 

 A loser ; but who falls in love 



Is fetter'd in fond Cupid's snare : 

 ^My angle breeds me no such care. 



Of recreation there is none 

 So free as fishing is alone ; 

 All other pastimes do no less 

 Than mind and body both possess ; 



My hand alone my work can do 



So I can fi.sk and study too. 



I care not, I, to fish in seas 

 -HFresh rivers best my mind do please, 

 Whose sweet calm course I contemplate, 

 And seek in life to imitate : 



In civil bounds I fain would keep, 

 And for my past offences weep. 



And when the timorous trout I wait 



To take, and he devours my bait, 



How poor a thing, sometimes I find, 



Will captivate a greedy mind ; 



And when none bite, I praise the wise, 

 Whom vain allurements ne'er surprise. 



But yet, though while I fish I fast, 

 I make good fortune my repast ; 

 And thereunto my friend invite, 

 In whom I more than that delight : 



Who is more welcome to my dish 



Than to my angle was my fish. 



As well content no prize to take, 



As use of taken prize to make : 



For so our Lord was pleased, when 



He fishers made fishers of men ; 

 Where (which is in no other game) 

 A man may fish and praise His name. 



