204 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



III. 

 Beware ! beware ! his eye is bright 



As falcon's in the sky : 

 But artful feather, hove aright, 



Will hood a keener eye. 



IV. 

 Beware ! beware ! the water- weed 



And the birch that waves behind, 

 And gently let the good line speed 



Before thee on the wind. 



v. 



O gently let the good line flow, 



And gently wile it home; 

 There's many a gallant fin, I trow, 

 Under the ribbed foam. 



VI. 

 A merry fish on a stallion hair, 



'Tis a pleasant thing to lead, 

 On May-days, when the cowslip fair 



Is blooming on the mead ; 



VII. 

 When the breeze is up, and the sun is out, 



And grey flies two or three 

 Sport in the noon-tide, round about 



The shadow of a tree. 



VIII. 

 O then the heart bounds pleasantly, 



And its thoughts are pleasant things, 

 Gushing in joyous purity, 



Like silent water-springs ! 



