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 And to entice them to the eager bit, Dead frogs and flies of sundry sorts he took; And snails and worms such as he found most fit Wherein to hide the close and deadly hook; And thus with practice and inventive wit, He found the means in every lake and brook Such store of fish to take with little pain As did long time this people new, sustain.

In this rude sort began this simple Art And so remained in that first age of old When SATURN did AMALTHEA'S horn impart Unto the world, that then was all of gold: The fish as yet had felt but little smart And were to bite more eager, apt and bold; And plenty still supplied the place again Of woeful want, whereof we now complain.

But when in time the fear and dread of man Fell more and more on every living thing, And all the creatures of the world began To stand in awe of this usurping king; Whose tyranny so far extended then That earth and seas it did in thraldom bring: It was a work of greater pain and skill, The wary fish in lake or brook to kill.

So worse and worse two ages more did pass, Yet still this Art more perfect daily grew: For then the slender rod invented was, Of finer sort than former ages knew: And hooks were made of silver and of brass, And lines of hemp and flax were framèd new; And sundry baits experience found out more Than elder times did know or try before.