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themselves with a "civil cup to all the otter-hunters" whom Venator was to meet on the next day, and "to all lovers of Angling." Venator then proposes that Piscator should meet him on the morrow, and spend that day in otter-hunting; upon which condition he would pass the two ensuing days with Piscator, and "do nothing but angle and talk of fish and fishing." Piscator readily agrees, and his promise to be at Amwell Hill before sunrise the next morning terminates the proceedings of the First day.

Piscator and Venator meet at the appointed hour, on the 2d of May, on Amwell Hill. They join the other huntsmen: the otter is caught; and a conversation ensues respecting those animals. Piscator begs for a young otter for the purpose of taming it; and one of the huntsmen suggests that they shall "go to an honest alehouse, where they may have a cup of good barley wine, sing" a well-known song called "Old Rose,' and all of them rejoice together." Venator invites Piscator to accompany them; and proposes that he shall pay his expenses for that night, and that Piscator shall pay his to-morrow, to which he consents; and the Second day closes.

On the next morning, the 3d of May, the dialogue commences abruptly by Venator saying, “Well now, let's go to your sport of Angling :" Piscator conducts him to a proper place; and in reply to Venator's questions of "How he liked their host and the company? Was not their host a witty man?" says, "And now to your question concerning your host, to speak truly he is not to me a good companion: for most of his conceits were either Scripture jests, or lascivious jests, for which I count no man witty; for the Devil will help a man that way inclined to the first, and his own corrupt nature (which he always carries with him) to the latter. But a companion that feasts the company with wit and mirth and leaves out the sin (which is usually mixt with them) he is the man; and indeed such a companion should have his charges borne, and to such a company I hope to bring you this night; for at Trout Hall, not far from this place, where I purpose to lodge to-night, there is usually an angler that proves good company. But for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects others, the very boys will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine host, and another of the company that shall be nameless; well, you know what example is able to do, and I know what the

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poet says in the like case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people of civility :—

'Many a one

Owes to his country his religion:

And in another would as strongly grow,

Had but his nurse or mother taught him so."

"This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise man, But of this no more, for though I love civility, yet I hate severe censures. I'll to my own art, and I doubt not but at yonder tree I shall catch a chub, and then we'll turn to an honest cleanly hostess that I know right well, rest ourselves there, and dress it for our dinner."

Piscator catches a chub, and conducts Venator "to an honest alehouse, where they would find a cleanly room, lavender in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck about the wall," the hostess of which, who was "cleanly, and handsome, and civil," altered from the first edition, where she is called "both cleanly and conveniently handsome," had dressed many for him "after his fashion," and he would "warrant it good meat." They dine, and inspired by their good cheer, Venator solicits permission, henceforth, to call Piscator " Master," and "that really he may be his Scholar; " for he adds, "you are such a companion, and have so quickly caught, and so excellently cooked this fish, as makes me ambitious to be your scholar." Piscator replies, "Give me your hand, from this time forward I will be your Master, and teach you as much of this art as I am able; and will, as you desire me, tell you somewhat of the nature of most of the fish that we are to angle for, and I am sure I both can and will tell you more than any common Angler yet knows."

They return to their amusement, when Piscator describes the manner of fishing for and dressing chubs; and desires Venator to take his rod whilst he sits down to mend his tackling. Venator succeeds in catching a chub, and is rewarded by his master's praises. The discourse then turns upon trout; and one being caught, they set out on their return to the house where they had dined, where they intend to sup and meet Piscator's "brother Peter, a good angler and a cheerful companion," as well as a friend whom he brought with him. It is evident that the word

The poet alluded to, from whom these lines are quoted, has not been discovered, but the following imitation of them by Dryden has been pointed out by an intelligent correspondent to the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xcix. part II. p. 112;

"By education most have been misled,

So they believe, because they were so bred;
The priest continues what the nurse began,
And thus the child imposes on the man."

"brother" was merely used to denote a member of the fraternity of Anglers, as Piscator speaks of his friend's wishing to be “a brother of the angle ;" and Peter shortly afterwards drinks to his "young brother's good fortune" on the morrow. A conversation ensues, in which the house and the manner they intend to spend the evening are described in very natural and pleasing language: "VENATOR. On my word, Master, this is a gallant trout, what shall we do with him?

"PISCATOR. Marry, e'en eat him to supper: we'll go to my hostess, from whence we came; she told me as I was going out of door, that my brother Peter, a good angler, and a cheerful companion, had sent word he would lodge there to-night, and bring a friend with him. My hostess has two beds, and I know you and I may have the best; we'll rejoice with my brother Peter and his friend, tell tales, or sing ballads, or make a catch, or find some harmless sport to content us, and pass away a little time without offence to God or man.

"VENATOR. A match, good Master, let's go to that house, for the linen looks white, and smells of lavender, and I long to lie in a pair of sheets that smell so let's be going, good Master, for I am hungry again with fishing."

Before they return, Piscator catches another logger-headed chub, which he hangs on a willow twig, and then indulges in the following observations, which are remarkable for their charming simplicity, and, to use Sir Walter Scott's expression, for their "Arcadian language:" "Let's be going. But turn out of the way a little, good Scholar, towards yonder high hedge. We'll sit whilst this shower falls so gently upon the teeming earth, and gives a sweeter smell to the lovely flowers that adorn the verdant meadows. Look under that broad beech-tree, I sat down when I was last this way a-fishing, and the birds in the adjoining grove seemed to have a friendly contention with an echo, whose dead voice seemed to live in a hollow cave, near to the brow of that primrose-hill there I sat viewing the silver streams glide silently towards their centre, the tempestuous sea; yet sometimes opposed by rugged roots, and pebble stones, which broke their waves, and turned them into foam; and sometimes viewing the harmless lambs, some leaping securely in the cool shade, whilst others sported themselves in the cheerful sun; and others were craving comfort from the swollen udders of their bleating dams. As I thus sat, these and other sights had so fully possessed my soul, that I thought, as the poet has happily expressed it :

'I was for that time lifted above earth;

And possest joys not promis'd in my birth.'

"As I left this place, and entered into the next field, a second pleasure entertained me, 'twas a handsome milkmaid, that had

cast away all care, and sung like a nightingale; her voice was good, and the ditty fitted for it; 'twas that smooth song which was made by Kit Marlowe, now at least fifty years ago, and the milkmaid's mother sung an answer to it, which was made by Sir Walter Raleigh in his younger days. They were old-fashioned poetry; but choicely good: I think much better than that now in fashion in this critical age. Look yonder, on my word, yonder they be both a-milking again; I will give her the chub, and persuade them to sing those two songs for us."

A dialogue then takes place between Piscator and the milk

women:

"PISCATOR. God speed, good woman, I have been a-fishing, and am going to Bleak Hall to my bed, and having caught more fish than will sup myself and friend, will bestow this upon you and your daughter, for I use to sell none.

"MILK-WOMAN. Marry, God requite you, Sir, and we'll eat it cheerfully; and if you come this way a-fishing two months hence, a grace of God I'll give you a sillabub of new verjuice, in a new made hay-cock, and my Maudlin shall sing you one of her best ballads, for she and I both love all anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men; in the meantime will you drink a draught of red cow's milk, you shall have it freely?

"PISCATOR. No, I thank you, but I pray do us a courtesy that shall stand you and your daughter in nothing, and we will think ourselves still something in your debt; it is but to sing us a song, that was sung by you and your daughter when I last passed over this meadow, about eight or nine days since.

"MILK-WOMAN. What song was it, I pray? was it 'Come, shepherds, deck your heads,' or 'As at noon Lulcina rested,' or 'Philida flouts me'? "PISCATOR. No, it is none of these: it is a song that your daughter sung the first part, and you sung the answer to it.

"MILK-WOMAN. Oh, I know it now: I learned the first part in my golden age, when I was about the age of my daughter; and the latter part, which indeed fits me best, but two or three years ago, when the cares of the world began to take hold of me; but you shall, God willing, hear them both. Come, Maudlin, sing the first part to the gentlemen with a merry heart, and I'll sing the second when you have done.

The milkmaid accordingly sings, and is answered by a song from her mother: Piscator thanks them, and Venator appears to have expressed his gratitude in a more affectionate manner than his sedate companion approved, for his Master observes, "Scholar, let Maudlin alone, do not you offer to spoil her voice. Look, yonder comes my Hostess to call us to supper. How now? is my brother Peter come?”

"HOSTESS. Yes, and a friend with him, they are both glad to hear you are in these parts, and long to see you, and are hungry, and long to be at supper."

Piscator and Venator then meet "brother Peter," who intro

duces them to Coridon, "an honest countryman, a most downright, witty, merry companion, that met me here purposely to eat a trout, and to be pleasant."

They sup off the trout which Piscator had caught, with such other meat as the house afforded, moistening their cheer with "some of the best barley wine, the good liquor that our good honest forefathers did use to drink of, which preserved their health and made them live so long, and to do so many good deeds."

During their conversation Peter thus eulogised Piscator, "On my word this trout is in perfect season. Come, I thank you, and here is a hearty draught to you, and to all the brothers of the Angle wheresoever they be, and to my young brother's good fortune to-morrow; I will furnish him with a rod, if you will furnish him with the rest of the tackling, we will set him up and make him a fisher; and I will tell him one thing for his encouragement, that his fortune hath made him happy to be a Scholar to such a Master; a Master that knows as much both of the nature and breeding of fish as any man; and can also tell him as well how to catch and cook them, from the minnow to the salmon, as any that I ever met withal." To which Piscator replied, "Trust me, brother Peter, I find my Scholar to be so suitable to my own humour, which is to be free and pleasant, and civilly merry, that my resolution is to hide nothing that I know from him."

They then agree to sing several songs and catches, which Venator says, "shall give some addition of mirth to the company, for we will be merry," upon which Piscator observes, "'Tis a match, my mastérs; let's even say grace, and turn to the fire, drink the other cup to wet our whistles, and so sing away all sad thoughts. Come on, my masters, who begins? I think it is best to draw cuts, and avoid contention." The lot falls to Coridon, who begins, for "he hates contention." The song is much admired by Piscator, who says, "Well sung, Coridon, this song was sung with mettle and was choicely fitted to the occasion; I shall love you for it as long as I know you: I would you were a brother of the angle, for a companion that is cheerful, and free from swearing and scurrilous discourse, is worth gold. I love such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon one another next morning; nor men (that cannot well bear it) to repent the money they spend when they be warmed with drink: and take this for a rule, you may pick out such times and such companies, that you may make yourselves merrier for a little, than a great deal of money; for 'tis the company and not the

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