102 FOURTEENTH TO THE 



On muddy banks their fishy trains they leave, 

 , And f with the heat their parchy bottoms cleave, 

 ', f ,' A russet elje njbi;owns the wasted fields, 



the scorch' d grcve its wither' d verdure yields." 



The second * Eclogue' is devoted to a description of 

 night fishing. Two youths are represented as going out 

 on a summer's evening, under the influence of those sub- 

 dued feelings which the solemn twilight season naturally 

 creates. This melancholy mood inspires a disposition to 

 moralize, which, however, the breaking in of the morning 

 dawn in a great measure dissipates. 



" Here then beneath the hedgy covert rest, 

 Now farther roaming dangerously request ; 

 Lest fawns that haunt the dunny woods by night, 

 With tedious yell or glaring forms affright ; 

 Or wand'ring fires that o'er the marches stray, 

 Tho' bogs and moory fens misguide our way." 

 ***** 



Pleasing by early morn the bleating flocks, 

 The currents murmur down the distant rocks, 

 The gale's perfume, the echo's mimic sound, 

 The night-bird's song, and low of kine around ; 

 In hollow banks the hum of must'ring bees, 

 And zephyr's whisp'ring soft amid the trees." 



The third ' Eclogue ' describes the river enemies of 

 the trout and salmon. Among these the otter takes a 

 prominent place. A description is given of one of these 



