The Secrets of Angling. 31 



What pleasure can it be to walke about, 



The fields and meades in heat or pinching cold ? 



And stand all day to catch a silly Trout, 



That is not worth a teaster to be sold, 



And peraduenture sometimes goe. without, 



Besides the toles and troubles manifold, 



And to be washt with many a showre of ray no, 



Before he can returne from thence acrain ? 



More ease it were, and more delight I trow, 

 In some sweet house to passe the time away, 

 Amongst the best, with braue and gallant show, 

 And with faire dames to daunce, to sport and plaj--. 

 And on the board, the nimble dice to tlirow, 

 That brings in gaine, and helps the shot to pa}', 



And with good wine and store of dainty fare. 

 To feede at will and take but little care. 



THE ANSWERE. 



I meane not here mens errours to reproue. 

 Nor do enuie their seeming happy state ; 

 But rather meruaile why they doe not loue 

 An honest sport that is without debate ; 

 Since their abused pastimes often moue 

 Their mindes to anger and to mortall hate : 



And as in bad delights their time they spend, 

 So oft it brings them to no better end. 



Indeed it is a life of lesser paine, 



To sit at play from noone till it be niglit : 



And then from night till it be noone againe, 



With damned oathes, pronounced in despight, 



For little cause and euery trifle vaine. 



To curse, to brawle, to quarrell, and to fight, 



To packe the Gardes, and Avith some cozning tricke, 

 His fellowes Purse of all his coyne to picke. 



