WRITTEN UPON A BLANK LEAF IN "THE COMPLETE ANGLER"
Composed 1819.—Published 1819
One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."—Ed.
While flowing rivers yield a blameless sport,
Shall live the name of Walton: Sage benign!
Whose pen, the mysteries of the rod and line
Unfolding, did not fruitlessly exhort
To reverend watching of each still report
That Nature utters from her rural shrine.
Meek, nobly versed in simple discipline—