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 again ? 



More ease it were, and more delight I trow, 

 In some sweet house to passe the time r.-.vay, 

 Amongst the best, with braue and gallant show, 

 And with faire dames to daunce, to sport and play, 

 And on the board, the nimble dice to throw, 

 That brings in gaine, and helps the shot to pay, 



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 nioue 

 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 night : 



And then from night till it be noone againe, 



With damned oathes, pronounced in despight, 



For little cause and euery triile vaine, 



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



To packe the Cardes, and with some cozning tricke, 

 His fcllowes Purse of all his coyne to pirke. 



