IO6 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



And it is so with many kinds of fish, and of trouts 

 especially, which differ in their bigness and shape 

 and spots and color. The great Kentish hens 

 may be an instance compared to other hens. And 

 doubtless there is a kind of small trout which will 

 never thrive to be big, that breeds very many more 

 than others do, that be of a larger size ; which you 

 may rather believe, if you consider that the little 

 wren and titmouse will have twenty young ones at 

 a time, when usually the noble hawk or the musi- 

 cal thrassel or blackbird exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch 

 a trout. And at my next walking, either this even- 

 ing or to-morrow morning, I will give you direc- 

 tion how you yourself shall fish for him. 



Ven. Trust me, master, I see now it is a harder 

 matter to catch a trout than a chub ; for I have put 

 on patience, and followed you these two hours, 

 and not seen a fish stir, neither at your minnow 

 nor your worm. 



Pise. Well, scholar, you must endure worse luck 

 sometime, or you will never make a good angler. 

 But what say you now ? There is a trout now, and 

 a good one too, if I can but hold him, and two or 

 three turns more will tire him. Now you see he 

 lies still, and the sleight is to land him. Reach 

 me that landing-net. So, sir, now he is mine own, 

 what say you now ? Is not this worth all my labor 

 and your patience ? 



Ven. On my word, master, this is a gallant trout ; 

 what shall we do with him ? 



