And if I did what then?
Are you aggriev'd therefore?
The sea hath fish for every man,
And what would you have more?

Thus did my Mistress once,
Amaze my mind with doubt;
And popt a question for the nonce,
To beat my brains about.

Whereto I thus replied,
Each fisherman can wish,
That all the sea at every tide,
Were his alone to fish.

And so did I (in vain);
But since it may not be:
Let such fish there as find the gain,
And leave the loss for me.

And with such luck and loss,
I will content my self:
Till tides of turning time may toss,
Such fishers on the shelf.

And when they stick on sands,
That every man may see:
Then will I laugh and clap my hands,
As they do now at me.