The Fourth Day 167 



and I think will serve in any month: though I 

 shall commend any angler that tries conclusions, 

 and is industrious to improve the art. And now, 

 my honest scholar, the long shower and my tedious 

 discourse are both ended together : and I shall give 

 you but this observation, that when you fish for a 

 Barbel, your rod and line be both long and of good 

 strength ; for, as I told you, you will find him a 

 heavy and a dogged fish to be dealt withal; yet 

 he seldom or never breaks his hold, if he be once 

 strucken. And if you would know more of fishing 

 for the Umber or Barbel, get into favour with Dr. 

 Sheldon, whose skill is above others ; and of that, 

 the poor that dwell about him have a comfortable 

 experience. 



And now let's go and see what interest the 

 Trouts will pay us, for letting our angle-rods lie 

 so long and so quietly in the water for their use. 

 Come, scholar, which will you take up ? 



VENATOR. Which you think fit, master. 



PlSCATOR. Why, you shall take up that; for I 

 am certain, by viewing the line, it has a fish at it. 

 Look you, scholar! well done! Come, now take 

 up the other too : well ! now you may tell my 

 brother Peter, at night, that you have caught a 

 leash of Trouts this day. And now let's move 

 towards our lodging, and drink a draught of red- 

 cow's milk as we go ; and give pretty Maudlin 

 and her honest mother a brace of Trouts for their 

 supper. 



VENATOR. Master, I like your motion very well : 

 and I think it is now about milking-time ; and 

 yonder they be at it. 



PlSCATOR. God speed you, good woman ! I thank 

 you both for our songs last night : I and my com- 

 panion have had such fortune a-fishing this day, 

 that we resolve to give you and Maudlin a brace of 



