

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 125 



of discussion and remark among anglers namely, * On 

 unfair modes of fishing.' 



" You that fish for dace and roches, 



Carpes or tenches, bonus noches, 



Thou wast borne betweene two dishes 



When the Fryday signe was fishes. 



Angler's yeares are made and spent, 



All in Ember weekes and Lent. 



Breake thy rod about thy noddle, 

 Throw thy worms and flies by the pottle, 

 Keepe thy corke to stop thy bottle, 

 Make straight thy hooke, and be not afeard 



To shave his beard j 

 That in case of started stitches 

 Hooke and line may mend thy breeches. 



He that searches pools and dikes, 

 Halters jackes, and strangles pikes, 

 Let him know, though he think he wise is, 

 'Tis not a sport but an assizes 

 Fish to hooke, were the case disputed, 

 Are not tooke, but executed. 

 Breake thy rod, &c. &c. 



You whose pastes fox rivers throat 

 And make Isis pay her groate. 

 That from May to parch October, 

 Scarce a minow can slepe sober. 

 Be your fish in open thrust, 

 And your owne red-paste the crust. 

 Breake thy rod, &c. &c. 



11 



