beyond feventy years of age he made this defcription of a part of the present pleasure that poffeft him, as he fate quietly in a Summers evening on a bank a fishing; it is a description of the Spring, which because it glides as foft and fweetly from his that River does now pen,as
by which it was then made, I shall
repeat unto you.
This day dame Nature feem'd in love :
The luftie fap began to move;
Fresh juice did ftir th' imbracing Vines,
And birds had drawn their Valentines.
The jealous Trout, that low did lye,
Rofe at a well diffembled flie;
There stood my friend with patient skill,
Attending of his trembling quil.
Already were the eaves poffeft
With the fwift Pilgrims dawbed neft:
The Groves already did rejoice,
In Philomels triumphing voice:
The showrs were short, the weather mild,
The morning fresh, the evening smil d.
Jone takes her neat rubb'd pail, and now
She trips to milk the fand-red Cow;
Where for fome sturdy foot-ball Swain,
Jone ftrokes a Sillibub or twaine.
The fields and gardens were befet
With Tulips, Crocus, Violet,
And now, though late, the modest Rose
Did more then half a blush difclofe.
Thus all looks gay and full of chear
To welcome the new liveried year.
These were the thoughts that then poffeft the undisturbed mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will Will you hear the wish of another Angler, and the commendation of his happy life, Jo. Da. which he also fings in Verse.
Let me live harmlesly, and near the brink
Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling place,
Where I may fee my quil or cork down fink,
With eager bit of Pearch, or Bleak, or Dace;
And on the world and my Creator think,(brace;
Whilft fome men ftrive, ill gotten goods t' im-
D 2
And others fpend their time in bafe excess
Of wine or worse,in war and wantonnefs.
Let them that lift thefe paftimes ftill purfue,
And on fuch pleafing fancies feed their fill,
So I the fields and meadows green may view,
And daily by fresh Rivers walk at will,
Among the Daifies and the Violets blue,
Red Hyacinth,and yellow Daffadil,
Purple Narciffus,like the morning rayes,
Pale ganderglass and azure Culverkayes.
I count it higher pleasure to behold
The stately compass of the lofty Skie,
And in the midft thereof (like burning Gola)
The flaming Chariot of the worlds great eye,
The watry clouds, that in the aire up rold,
With fundry kinds of painted colours flye;
And fair Aurora lifting up her head,
Still blushing,rife from old Tithonius bed.
The hils and mountains raised from the plains,
The plains extended level with the ground,
The grounds divided into fundry vains,
The vains inclofd with rivers running round;
Thefe rivers making way through natures chains
With headlong courfe into the fea profound;
The raging fea, beneath the vallies low,
Where lakes,and rils, and rivulets do flow.
The loftie woods, the Forrests wide and long
Adorn'd with leaves & branches fresh &green,
In whofe cool bowres the birds with many a fong
Do welcom with their Quire the Sumers Queen:
The Meadows fair, where Flora's gifts among
Are intermixt,with verdant grafs between.
The filver-fcaled fish that foftly fwim,
Within the fweet brooks chrystal watry stream.
All thefe, and many more of his Creation,
That made the Heavens,tke Angler oft doth fee,
Taking therein no little delectation,
To think how ftrange,how wonderful they be ;
Framing thereof an inward contemplation,
To fet his heart from other fancies free;
And whilft he looks on thefe with joyful eye,
His mind is rapt above the Starry Skie.
Sir, I am glad my memory did not lose these last Verses, because
they are somewhat more pleasant and more futable to May Day, ther my harsh Discourse, and I am glad your patience hath held out fo long, as to hear them and me; for both together have brought us within the fight of the Thatcht Houfe; and I must be your Debtor(if you think it worth your attention) for the reft of my promised discourse, till fome other opportunity and a like time of leifure.
Viat. Sir, You have Angled me on with much pleasure to the thatcht Houfe, and I now find your words true, That good company makes the way feem fhort; for, truft me, Sir, I thought we had wanted three miles of the thatcht House, till you fhewed it me: but now we are at it, we'l turn into it, and refresh our selves with a cup of Ale and a little reft.
Pifc. Moft gladly (Sir) and we'l drink a civil cup to all the Otter Hun
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