CHAP. I ] * THE FIRST DAT. 87 



I count it higher pleasure, to behold 



The stately compass of the lofty sky ; 

 And in the midst thereof, like burning gold, 



The flaming chariot of the world's great eye ; 

 The watery clouds, that in the air up-roll'd, 



With sundry kinds of painted colours fly ; 

 And fair Aurora, lifting up her head, 

 Still blushing, rise from old Tithonus' bed ; 



The hills and mountains raised from the plains ; 



The plains extended, level with the ground; 

 The grounds, divided into sundry veins ; 



The veins, inclosed with rivers running round ; 

 These rivers, making way through nature's chains, 



With headlong course into the sea profound ; 

 The raging sea, beneath the valleys low, 

 Where lakes and rills and rivulets do flow ; 



The lofty woods, the forests wide and long, 



Adorn'd with leaves, and branches fresh and green, " r 



In whose cool bowers the birds with many a song, 

 Do welcome with their quire the summer's Queen ; 



The meadows fair, where Flora's gifts .among 

 Are intermixt, with verdant grass between ; 



The silver-scaled fish that softly swim 



Within the sweet brook's crystal wat'ry stream. 



All these, and many more, of His creation 



That made the heavens, the Angler oft doth see, 



Taking therein no little delectation, 



To think how strange, how wonderful they be ; 



Framing thereof an inward contemplation, 

 To set his heart from other fancies free ; 



And whilst he looks on these with joyful eye, 



His mind is rapt above the starry sky. 



Sir, I am glad my memory has not lost these last 

 verses, because they are somewhat more pleasant and more 

 suitable to May-day, than my harsh discourse. And I am 

 glad your patience hath held out so long, as to hear them 

 and me, for both together have brought us within the sight 

 of the Thatch' d-house : and I must be your debtor, if you 

 think it worth your attention, for the rest of my promised 

 discourse, till some other opportunity, and a like time of 

 leisure. 



Ten. Sir, you have angled me on with much pleasure to 

 the Thatch' d-house ; and I now find your words true, " That 

 good company makes the way see in short;" for, trust me, 



