CHAP. XVI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 187 



patch it up by the help of mine own invention ; who am 

 not excellent at poetry, as my part of the song may tes- 

 tify : but of that I will say no more, lest you should think 

 I mean, by discommending it, to beg your commendations 

 of it. And therefore, without replications, let's hear your 

 catch, scholar; which I hope will be a good one, for you 

 are both musical and have a good fancy to boot. 



Ven. Marry, and that you shall; and as freely as I 

 would have my honest master tell me some more secrets 

 of fish and fishing, as we walk and fish towards London 

 to-morrow. But, master, first let me tell you, that very 

 hour which you were absent from me, I sat down under 

 a willow tree by the water-side, and considered what you 

 had told me of the owner of that pleasant meadow in 

 which you then left me ; that he had a plentiful estate, 

 and not a heart to think so ; that he had at this time 

 many law-suits depending ; and that they both damped 

 his mirth, and took up so much of his time and thoughts, 

 that he himself had not leisure to take the sweet content 

 that I, who pretended no title to them, took in his fields: 1 



XV. 



We covet no wealth, 



But the blessing of health, , , . 

 Aud that greater, good conscience within us. 



Such devotion we bring^ 



To our God, and our King, 

 That from either no offers can win us. 



XVI. 



While we sit and fish, 



We pray, as we wish, 

 For long life to our king, James the Second. 



Honest anglers then may, 



Or they've very foul play, 

 Witli the best of good subjects be reckon'd. 



(1) There is so much fine and useful morality included in this sentiment, 

 that to let it pass would he inexcusable in one who pretends to illustrate the 

 author's meaning, or display his excellencies. The precept which he evidently 

 meant to inculcate, is a very com tollable one, jeiz, that some of the greatest 

 pleasures human nature is capable of, lie open and in common to the poor as 

 well as the rich. It is not necessary that a man should have the fee-simple of 

 all the land iu prospect from Windsor Terrace, or Richmond Hill, to enjoy the 

 beauty of those two delightful situations; nor can we imagine that no one 



