86 THE- COMPLETE AN GLEE. [PART I. 



this time, by which it was then made, I shall repeat it 

 unto you : 



This day dame Nature seem'd in love : ? 



The lusty sap began to move ; 



Fresh juice did stir th' embracing vines, 



And birds had drawn their valentines. 



The jealous trout, that low did lie, 



Rose at a well-dissembled flie ; 



There stood my friend, with patient skill, 



Attending of his trembling quill. 



Already were the eaves possest 



With the swift Pilgrim's 1 daubed nest; 



The groves already did rejoice 



In Philomel's triumphing voice, 



The showers were short, the weather mild, 



The morning fresh, the evening smiled. 



Joan takes her neat-rubb'd pail, and now 

 She trips to milk the sand-red cow, 

 Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, 

 Joan strokes a syllabub or twain, 

 The fields and gardens were beset 

 With tulips, crocus, violet : 

 And now, though late, the modest rose 

 Did more than half a blush disclose. 

 Thus all looks gay, and fall of cheer, 

 To welcome the new livery'd year. 



These were the thoughts that then possessed the undis- 

 turbed mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will you hear the 

 wish of another angler, and the commendation of his happy 

 life, which he also sings in verse ; viz. Jo. Davors, Esq. : 



Let me live harmlessly ; and near the brink 

 Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling place, 



Where I may see my quill, or cork, down sink 

 With eager bite of perch, or bleak, or dace ; 



And on the world and my Creator think : 



Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t'embrace ; 



And others spend their time in base excess 



Of wine, or, worse, in war and wantonness : 



Let them that list, these pastimes still pursue. 



And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill : 

 So I the fields and meadows green may view, 



And daily by fresh rivers walk at will, 

 Among the daisies and the violets blue, 



Red hyacinth, and yellow daffodil, 

 Purple narcissus like the morning rays, 

 Pale gander-grass, and azure culver-keyes : 



1 The swallow. 



