88 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



it was twenty-two inches when it was taken I and the 

 belly of it looked, some part of it, as yellow as a marigold, 

 and part of it as white as a lily ; and yet, methinks, it 

 looks better in this good sauce. 



CORIDON. Indeed, honest friend, it looks well, and 

 tastes well : I thank you for it, and so doth my friend 

 Peter, or else he is to blame. 



PETER. Yes, and so do I, we all thank you ; and when 

 we have supped, I will get my friend Coridon to sing you a 

 song for requital. 



COR. I will sing a song, if anybody will sing another ; 

 else, to be plain with you, I will sing none : I am none of 

 those that sing for meat, but for company : I say, " Tis 

 merry in hall, when men sing all." * 



Pise. I'll promise you I'll sing a song that was lately 

 made at my request by Mr. William Basse, one that hath 

 made the choice songs of the Hunter in his Career, and of 

 Tom of Bedlam, and many others of note ; and thic that 

 I will sing, is in praise of angling. 



COR. And then mine shall be, the praise of a country- 

 man's life : what will the rest sing of ? 



PETER. I will promise you, I will sing another song 

 in praise of angling to-morrow night ; for we will not part 

 till then, but fish to-morrow, and sup together, and the 

 next day every man leave fishing, and fall to his business. 



VEN. 'Tis a match ; and I will provide you a song or 

 a catch against then too, which shall give some addition 

 of mirth to the company ; for we will be civil, and as merry 

 as beggars. 



Pise. 'Tis a match, my masters ; let's e'en say grace, 

 and turn to the fire, drink the other cup to wet our whistles, 

 and so sing away all sad thoughts. 



* Parody on the adage 



" It's merry in the hall 

 When beards wag all " ; 



i.e. when all are eating. H. 



