The Third Day 75 



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 I do ; we all thank you : and, 

 when we have supped, I will get my friend Coridon 

 to sing you a song for requital. 



CORIDON. 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." 



PlSCATOR. 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 this, that I will sing, 

 is in praise of Angling. 



CORIDON. And then mine shall be the praise of 

 a Countryman'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. 



VENATOR. '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. 



PlSCATOR. 'Tis a match, my masters. Let's e'en 

 say grace, and turn to the fire, drink the other cup 

 to whet 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 contentioa 



PETER. It is a match. Look, the shortest cut 

 falls to Coridon. 



