38 COMMENDATORY YERSES. 



His fate's foretold, who fondly places 

 His bliss in woman's soft embraces. 

 All pleasures but the angler's bring 

 I' th' tail repentance like a sting. 



Then on these banks let me sit down, 

 Free from the toilsome sword and gown ; 

 And pity those that do affect 

 To conquer nations and protect. 

 My reed affords such true content, 

 Delights so sweet and innocent, 

 As seldom fall unto the lot 

 Of scepters, though they're justly got. 



1649. THO. WEAVER, M.A. 1 



TO THE BEADEES 



OF 



MY MOST INGENIOUS FRIEND'S BOOK, "THE COMPLETE 

 ANGLER." 



HE that both knew and writ the Lives of men, 

 Such as were once, but must not be again ; 

 Witness his matchless Donne and Wotton, by 

 Whose aid he could their speculations try : 



He that conversed with angels, such as were 

 Ouldsworth 2 and Featly, 3 each a shining star 

 Showing the way to Bethlem ; each a saint, 

 Compar'd to whom our zealots, now, but paint. 



He that our pious and learn'd Morley 4 knew, 

 And from him suck'd wit and devotion too. 



He that from these such excellencies fetch'd, 



That he could tell how high and far they reach'd ; 

 What learning this, what graces th' other had ; 

 And in what several dress each soul was clad. 



1 The son of Thomas Weaver, of Worcester. See Wood's " A then. 

 Oxon." vol. iii. p. 623. 



2 Dr. Richard Holdsworth. See an account of him in Wood's 

 "Fasti Oxon." and in Ward's " Lives of the Grresham Professors." 



3 Dr. Daniel Featley, for whom see Wood's " Athen. Oxon." 



4 Dr. George Morley, Bishop of Winchester. 



