170 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



If thou to "be so seen be'st loath, 

 By sun or moon, thou darkenest both ; 

 And if mine eyes have leave to see, 

 I need not their light, having thee. 



Let others freeze with angling-reeds, 

 And cut their legs with shells and weeds, 

 Or treacherously poor fish beset, 

 With strangling snares, or windowy net : 



Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest, 

 The bedded fish in banks outwrest ; 

 Let curious traitors sleave silk flies, 

 To witch poor wandering fishes' eyes : 



i For thee thou need'st no such deceit, 

 I For thou thyself art thine own bait : 

 i That fish that is not catch 'd thereby 

 Is wiser far, alas ! than I. 



Pise. Well remembered, honest scholar ; I thank you for 

 these choice verses, which I hav 7 e heard formerly, but had 

 quite forgot, till they were recovered by your happy memory. 

 Well, being I have now rested myself a little, I will make 

 you some requital, by telling you some observations of the 

 eel, for it rains still, and because, as you say, our angles are 



