184 ANGLING LITERATURE OF 



With various hand proportion* d to their force. 

 If yet too young, and easily deceiv'd, 

 A worthless prey scarce bends your pliant rod. 

 Him, piteous of his youth, and the short space 

 He has enjoy' d the vital light of heaven, 

 Soft disengage, and back into the stream 

 The speckl'd captive throw ; but, should you lure 

 [From his dark haunt, beneath the tangled roots 

 Of pendant trees, the monarch of the brook, 

 Behoves you then to ply your finest art. 

 Long time he, following cautious, scans the fly, 

 And oft attempts to seize it, but as oft 

 The dimpled water speaks his jealous fear. 

 At last, while haply o'er the shaded sun 

 Passes a cloud, he desperate takes the death 

 With sullen plunge : at once he darts along, 

 Deep struck, and runs out all the lengthen' d line, 

 Then seeks the farthest ooze, the sheltering weed, 

 The cavern' d bank, his old secure abode, 

 And flies aloft, and flounces round the pool, 

 Indignant of the guile. With yielding hand, 

 That feels him still, yet to his furious course 

 Gives way, you, now retiring, following now, 

 Across the stream, exhaust his idle rage, 

 Till floating broad upon his breathless side, 

 And to his fate abandon' d, to the shore 

 You gaily drag your unresisting prize." 



There were a considerable number of angling works 

 published during this century, both in London, and in the 

 country ; but they are mostly of a very commonplace 

 order \ and consequently unworthy of any particular notice. 



