Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FOR A COPY OF 'THE COMPLEAT ANGLER', by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I care not much how folks prefer Last Line: And dream you -- 'study to be quiet.' Alternate Author Name(s): Dobson, Austin Subject(s): Walton, Izaak (1593-1683) | ||||||||
'Le reve de la vie champetre a ete de tout temps l'ideal des villes.' -- GEORGE SAND. I CARE not much how folks prefer To dress your Chubb or Chavender; I care no whit for line or hook, But still I love old IZAAK'S book, Wherein a man may read at ease Of 'gandergrass' and 'culverkeys,' Or with half-pitying wonder, note What Topsell, what Du Bartas wrote, Or list the song, by Maudlin sung, That Marlowe made when he was young: -- These things, in truth, delight me more Than all old IZAAK'S angling lore. These were his SECRET. What care I How men concoct the Hawthorn-fly, Who could as soon 'stroke Syllabub' As catch your Chavender or Chubb; And might not, in ten years, arrive At baiting hooks with frogs, alive! -- But still I love old IZAAK'S page, Old IZAAK'S simple Golden Age, Where blackbirds flute from ev'ry bough, Where lasses 'milk the sand-red cow,' Where lads are 'sturdy foot-ball swains,' And nought but soft 'May-butter' rains; Where you may breathe untainted air Either at Hodsden or at Ware; And sing, or slumber, or look wise Till Phoebus sink adown the skies; Then, laying rod and tackle by, Choose out some 'cleanly Alehouse' nigh, With ballads 'stuck about the wall,' Of Joan of France or English Mall -- With sheets that smell of lavender -- There eat your Chubb (or Chavender). And keep old IZAAK'S honest laws For 'mirth that no repenting draws' -- To wit, a friendly stave or so, That goes to Heigh-trolollie-loe, Or, more to make the ale-can pass, A hunting song of William Basse -- Then talk of fish and fishy diet, And dream you -- 'Study to be quiet.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS: PART 3: 5. WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVE by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH CONTENTATION; DIRECTED TO IZAAK WALTON by CHARLES COTTON TO MY DEAR AND MOST WORTHY FRIEND, MR. IZAAK WALTON by CHARLES COTTON TO MY OLD AND MOST WORTHY FRIEND MR. IZAAK WALTON, ON LIFE OF DONNE by CHARLES COTTON TO EDMUND GOSSE, WITH A COPY OF WALTON'S LIVES by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON TO MY WORTHY FRIEND MR. ISAAC WALTON ON THE PUBLICATION OF THEALMA by THOMAS FLATMAN FOR IZAAK WALTON by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY IZAAC WALTON, COTTON, AND WILLIAM OLDWAYS by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR IZAAK WALTON TO RIVER AND BROOK by EUGENE JACOB LEE-HAMILTON A FANCY FROM FONTENELLE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON |
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