206 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Only this 

 Lawful is ; 

 For our skill 

 Breeds no ill, 

 But content and pleasure. 



In a morning up we rise, 

 Ere Aurora } s peeping ; 

 Drink a cup to wash our eyes ; 

 Leave the sluggard sleeping 

 Then we go 

 To arid fro 

 With our knacks 

 At our backs, 

 To such streams 

 As the Thames, 

 If we have the leisure. 



When we please to walk abroad 



For our recreation, 

 In the fields is our abode, 

 Full of delectation : 



Where in a brook, 



With a hook, 



Or a lake, 



Fish we take ; 



There we sit 



For a bit, 

 Till we fish entangle. 



We have gentles in a horn, 



We have paste and worms too ; 

 We can watch both night and morn, 

 Suffer rain and storms too. 



None do here 



Use to swear ; 



Oaths do fray 



Fish away : 



We sit still 



And watch our quill j 

 Fishers must not wrangle, 



