THE PERCH. 275 



Most amorously to thee will swim, 

 Gladder to catch thee, than thou him, 



If thou to be so seen be'st loth, 

 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 : 



For thee, thou need'st no such deceit, 

 For thou thyself art thine own bait : 

 That fish that is not catch'd thereby 

 Is wiser far, alas ! than I. 



PlSC. Well remembered, honest scholar! I thank you 

 for these choice verses, which I have 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 observa- 

 tions of the eel, for it rains still, and because, as you say, 

 our angles are as money put to use, that thrives when we 

 play, therefore we'll sit still and enjoy ourselves a little 

 longer under this honeysuckle hedge. 



is 2 



