ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 201 



IV. 

 Oh ! 'tis a stream 



Most fair to see, 

 As in a dream 



Flows pleasantly, 

 And our hearts are woo'd 

 To a kind, sweet mood, 



By its wondrous witchery ! 



May, Here's a health to thee, Tom ; yet as for thy 

 singing, I commend it not. To my judgment, thy 

 cranium lacks the hill of tune. 



Otter. I am glad on't, Master May-fly, seeing I 

 shall thereby escape plague and persecution, the in- 

 evitable consequences of having the mood musical 

 about one ; but Swiveltop and you, it is alleged, are 

 wont to practise duetts together by the stream-side, 

 when the angling humour wears off, as it frequently 

 does, betwixt you. Marry ! let us have one. 



May. That you shall, Tom so join in, Doctor. 



Swivel. Lead, Bill, lead, and trust to my assist- 

 ance ; peradventure the words on't cross my memory. 



[MAY-FLY and SWTVELTOP sing.'] 



octo rfjeet! iSrotfjer Angler, sag. 



MAY-FLY. 



Good cheer ! brother angler, say, 

 Is the swift salmon abroad to-day ? 

 Have you noted the flash of his silvery mail, 

 Or the proud free curl of his glittering tail ? 



