94 Fly-Fifhing. 



Play round his fhanks, and mock his pranks 

 Perch, Pike, and tortuous Eel. 



But when they faw him fprawl and fplafh, 

 And plunge with floundering limb ; 



Odds-fifh ! they thought ftrange fifh they knew, 

 But never one like him. 



If thefe be fins fuch fpilikins 

 Have never learnt to fwim. 



And round and round and round they fwarm, 



Glide proudly, fail and float j 

 And bob their nofes to gulp in 



The buttons of his coat 

 Around, around with fplafh and bound, 



As might their fcorn denote. 



Ye filly fifti, muft ye defpife 



Th' ungainly thing ye fee ? 

 " Fifh out of water," as may chance 



A fifh fometime may be, 

 And jerked on hook, be fure would look 



As ftrange a fifh as he. 



That pocket now you're bobbing at, 



And eke that wondrous book ! 

 Within has piftures very bright 



And tempting to the look ; 

 Thofe pretty flies are glittering lies, 



And every one a hook. 



'Tis wifeft their own element 



Both man and fifh fhould keep- 

 That on dry ground the fifherman 



More cautioufly fhould creep j 



