THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



W^t 2lnglCT'0 Song. 



As inward love breeds outward talk, 

 The hound some praise, and some the hawk, 

 Some, better pleas'd with private sport, \ 



Use tennis, some a mistress court : 



But these delights I neither wish. 



Nor envy, while I freely fish. 



Who hunts, doth oft in danger ride ; 

 Who hawks, lures oft both far and wide ; 

 Who uses games shall often prove 

 A loser ; but who falls in love. 



Is fetter'd in fond Cupid's snare : 



My angle breeds me no such care. 



Of recreation there is none 

 So free as fishing is alone ; 

 All other pastimes do no less 

 Than mind and body both possess : 



My hand alone my work can do, 



So I can fish and study too. 



I care not, I, to fish in seas, 

 Fresh rivers best my mind do please. 

 Whose sweet calm course I contemplate, 

 And seek in life to imitate : 



In civil bounds I fain would keep, 



And for my past offences weep. 



And when the timorous Trout I wait 

 To take, and he devours my .bait. 

 How poor a thing, sometimes I find, 

 Will captivate a greedy mind : 



And when none bite, I praise the wise 



Whom vain allurements ne'er surprise. 



But yet, though while I fish, I fast, 

 I make good fortune my repast ; 

 And thereunto my friend invite. 

 In whom I more than that delight : 



Who is more welcome to my dish 



Than to my angle was my fish. 



As well content no prize to take. 

 As use of taken prize to make : 

 For so our Lord was pleased, when 

 He fishers made fishers of men ; 



Where, which is in no other game, 



A man may fish and praise his name. 



The first men that our Saviour dear 

 Did choose to wait upon him here, 



