COMMENDATORY VERSES. 2$ 



More praise is due; for 'tis both positive 

 And truth, which, once, was interrogative, 

 And utter'd by the poet, then, in jest 

 Et piscatorem piscis amare potest. 



CH. HARVIE, M.A. 



TO MY DEAR FRIEND, MR. IZAAK WALTON; 



IN 



PRAISE OF ANGLING, WHICH WE BOTH LOVE. 



DOWN by this smooth stream's wand'ring side, 



Adorn'd and perfum'd with the pride 



Of Flora's wardrobe, where the shrill 



Aerial choir express their skill 



First in alternate melody, 



And then in chorus all agree 



Whilst the charm'd fish, as extas/d 



With sounds, to his own throat deny'd, 



Scorns his dull element, and springs 



r th' air, as if his fins were wings. 



'T is here that pleasures sweet and high 

 Prostrate to our embraces lie : 

 Such as to body, soul, or frame, 

 Create no sickness, sin, or shame. 

 Roses, not fenc'd with pricks, grow here ; 

 No sting to th' honey-bag is near ; 

 But, what 's perhaps their prejudice, 

 They difficulty want, and price. 



