COMMENDATORY VERSES.1 TO MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW, UPON HIS COMPLETE ANGLER. ERASMUS in his learned Colloquies Each child may wade, or tallest giant swim. 'Twas so to me; who so the cheerful spring In the cool crystal streams, like lambs in May: Jo. FLOUD, Mr. of Arts. VARIATION. a mirth.-2nd Edit. as in text in 3rd Edit. NOTES. None of the verses occur in the First, but they are all to be found in the Second edition, excepting the two last by Dr. Duport, which were inserted for the first time in the fifth edition. 2 In the fifth edition, the words "in-law" are omitted; but as they correctly explain the writer's relationship, they are here adopted. 3 Some account of this person, who was the brother of Walton's first wife, and of his family, will be found in the Life of Walton, at the commencement of the volume. TO THE READER OF THE COMPLETE ANGLER. FIRST mark the Title well: my Friend that gave it Shall find it full of art, baits, lines, and hooks. The world the river is; both you and I, His baits will tempt us, and his hooks hold fast. Deck'd and adorn'd with flowers of Poetry, Nor are we caught alone, but, which is best, And danger of a surfeit here is none. The solid food of serious contemplation Is sauced, here, with such harmless recreation, More praise is due : for 'tis both positive CH. HARVIE, Mr. of Arts.1 NOTE. 1 In the Second and Third editions the initials C. H. only occur; the name was printed at length in the Fifth edition for the first time. An account of Harvey will be found in a subsequent note. TO MY DEAR FRIEND, MR. IZ. WALTON, IN PRAISE OF ANGLING, Down by this smooth stream's wandering side, Of Flora's wardrobe, where the shrill Whilst the charm'd fish, as ecstasied I' the air, as if his fins were wings. "Tis here that pleasures sweet and high Such as to body, soul, or fame,* Roses, not fenc'd with pricks, grow here; An obvious rod, a twist of hair, In this clear stream let fall a grub; VARIATIONS. a Down by this wand'ring stream's smooth side.-2nd Edit. I' the mud, your worm provokes a snig,1 Your false fly cheats a speckled Trout. s When you these creatures wisely choose To practise on, which to your use Owe their creation, and when Fish from your arts do rescue men,t 1it.-2nd Edition. • The following lines here occur in the second Edition, but are omitted in all the others: And there the cunning Carp you may P These two lines are omitted in the 2nd Edit. 4 in.-2nd Edit. r dappled.-Ibid. Whilst.-Ibid. t You fishes choose to rescue men.-Ibid. NOTES. 1 Snig, a term more generally applied to the small nine-eyed eel, commonly found about the apron of an old weir, or in shallow parts of the river Lee, and forms the amusement of sniggling to youthful Anglers. Eu. H. 2 "If it prove big," alludes to one of the stories told of the Wise Men of Gotham, a facetious penny history, much in circulation in the time of Walton. It is there related, that the men of Gotham, upon a Good Friday, after due consultation, collected all their white herrings, red herrings, sprats, and salt fish, and cast the whole into a pond, in order to secure a sufficient store of fish for the next Lent. In due time upon dragging the pond, there was found only a very large eel, and it being suspected the same must, by the size, have devoured the intended stock, it was concluded that such a voracious monster ought to be destroyed, and, as a death warrant, it was determined that it should Eu. H. be put in another pond, in order that it might be drowned. And when by sullen thoughts you find Distemper'd, serious, turning sad; The water's calmness in your breast, The daughter's dower, th' inheritance Of wine doth every day produce, Make good the doctrine of the Turks, Then on these banks let me site down, To conquer nations and protect. "you'll.-2nd Edit. VARIATIONS. Then this stream's calmness.-Ibid. y And give me cheap and quiet joys.-2nd Edition.-Sweeter are cheap and silent joys.-3rd Edition. z oft makes that fable true.-2nd Edition. a This, and the four following lines first appeared in the 3rd Edit. |