To a Fish of the Brooke

Why flyest thou away with fear?
Trust me there's nought of danger near,
I have no wicked hooke
All cover'd with a snaring bait,
Alas, to tempt thee to thy fate,
And dragge thee from the brooke.

O harmless tenant of the flood,
I do not wish to spill thy blood,
For Nature unto thee
Perchance hath given a tender wife,
And children dear, to charm thy life.
As she hath done for me.

Enjoy thy stream, O harmless fish;
And when an angler for his dish,
Through gluttony's vile sin.
Attempts, a wretch, to pull thee out,
God give thee strength, O gentle trout,
To pull the raskall in!