40 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



glided as soft and sweetly from his pen, as that river 

 does at this time, by which it was then made, I shall 

 repeat it unto you : 



Tliis day dame Nature seem'd in love; 



The lusty sap began to move ; 



Fresh juice did stir th* embracing Vine* ; 



And birds bad drawn their Valentines. 



The jealous Trout, that low did lie, 



Rose at a well-dissembled flie ; 



There stood my friend, with patient skill, 



Attending of las trembling quill 



Already were the eaves possest 



With the swift Pilgrim'si daubed nest ; 



The grove* already did rejoice, 



In Philomel's triumphing voice 



The showers were short, the weather mild, 



The morning fresh, the evening smil'd. 



Joan take* her neat-rubb'd pail, and now, 

 She trip* to milk the sand-red Cow; 

 Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, 

 Joan strokes a syllabub or twain. 

 The fields mod garden* were beset 

 With Tulips, Crocus. Violet : 

 And now, though late, the modest Rose 

 Did more than half a blush disclose. 



Thus all look* gay, and full of cheer, 



To welcome the new-livery'd year. 



These were the thoughts that then possessed the 

 undisturbed mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will you hear 

 the wish of another Angler, and the commendation of 

 his happy life, which he also sings in verse, viz. Jo f 

 Davors, Esq. 



Let me live harmlessly, and near the brink 



Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place; 

 Where I may see my quill, or cork, down sink 



With eager bite of Perch, or Bleak, or Dace; 

 And on the world and my Creator think : 



Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t'embrace j 

 And others spend their time in base excess 

 Of wine, or worse, in war and wantonness. 



Let them that list, these pastimes still pursue, 

 And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill ; 



So I the Field* and Meadows green may view, 

 And daily by fresh Rivers walk at will, 



Among the Daises and the Violets blue, 

 Red Hyacinth, and yellow Daffodil, 



Purple Narcissus like the morning rays, 



Pale Gander-grass, and azure Culver-keyes. 



(1) The Swallow. 



