178 ANGLING LITERATURE OF 



that I had her struggling in my anus, 

 How kindly could I warm her melting charms. 

 By bugs and vows decoy the pretty fool, 

 And fish for joy in love's delightful pool. 

 But this, alas, is but an idle dream, , 

 HaisM by the hilling whispers of the stream j 

 Whose pleasing murmurs do my soul inspire 

 With gentle love, and kindle up desire. 



A bite, a swinging fish, a pox of love. 

 Well struck, he's mine, I have him fast, by Jove* 



1 dare not weigh him he's so large, I fear 

 He'll snap my line, that's but a single hah* : 

 Hang it, I'll try, now Fortune give me luck ; 

 Adsdeath, he's sheard my line and gorg'd my hook. 

 He was a bouncing rogue, so monstrous big, 



He row I'd about and tumbl'd like a pig. 



Nouns, that my line should break and let him go. 



Fortune's a whore to tantalize me so. 



What man can such a loss with patience bear ? 



Such cursed luck would make a parson swear. 



This is a fretting plague, a double hurt ; 



Fve lost at once my booty and my sport. 



My lines and hooks are gone ; I'm ruin'd quite, 



Just as the perch and trout begin to bite. 



Had it not been for this confounded fish, 



I'm certain I had caught a noble dish. 



Besides, my wife may lose her longing by't, 



I told her she should sup of fish this night, 



And since I've none to carry home, I fear 



She'll think, poor girl, I had 'em dress'd elsewhere, 



So teaz herself that I should prove unkind, 



And with her own mistakes disturb her mind. 



