104 The Complete Angler 



Nor care to get, nor fear to keep, 

 Did ever break a Beggar's sleep. 



Play, Beggars, play ; play, Beggars, play ; 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



A hundred head of black and white 



Upon our gowns securely feed ; 

 If any dare his master bite, 



He dies therefore, as sure as creed. 

 Thus Beggars lord it as they please ; 

 And only Beggars live at ease. 



Bright shines the sun ; play, Beggars, play ; 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



VENATOR. I thank you, good master, for this 

 piece of merriment, and this song, which was well 

 humoured by the maker, and well remembered by 

 you. 



PlSCATOR. But, I pray, forget not the catch 

 which you promised to make against night ; for our 

 countryman, honest Condon, will expect your catch, 

 and my song, which I must be forced to patch up, 

 for it is so long since I learnt it, that I have forgot 

 a part of it. But, come, now it hath done raining, 

 let's stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the 

 river, and try what interest our angles will pay us 

 for lending them so long to be used by the Trouts ; 

 lent them indeed, like usurers, for our profit and 

 their destruction. 



VENATOR. Oh me! look you, master, a fish! a 

 fish ! Oh, alas, master, I have lost her. 



PlSCATOR. Ay marry, Sir, that was a good fish 

 indeed : if I had had the luck to have taken up that 

 rod, then 'tis twenty to one he should not have 

 broken my line by running to the rod's end, as you 

 suffered him. I would have held him within the bent 

 of my rod, unless he had been fellow to the great 

 Trout that is near an ell long, which was of such 

 a length and depth, that he had his picture drawn, 

 and now is to be seen at mine host Rickabie's, at 



