THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 1 09 



mother sung an answer to it, which was made by 

 Sir Walter Raleigh in his younger days. 



They were old-fashioned poetry, but choicely 

 good, I think, much better than the strong 

 lines which are now in fashion in this critical age. 

 Look yonder ! on my word, yonder, they both 

 be a-milking again. I will give her the chub, and 

 persuade them to sing those two songs to us. 



God speed you, good woman ! I have been 

 a-fishing, and am going to Bleak Hall to my bed ; 

 and having caught more fish than will sup my- 

 self and my friend, I will bestow this upon you 

 and your daughter, for I use to sell none. 



Milkw. Marry, God requite you, sir, and we '11 

 eat it cheerfully. And if you come this way 

 a-fishing two months hence, a grace of God, I '11 

 give you syllabub of new verjuice in a new-made 

 hay-cock for it. And my Maudlin 1 shall sing you 

 one of her best ballads ; for she and I both love all 

 anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men. 

 In the mean time will you drink a draught of red 

 cow's milk ? You shall have it freely. 



Pise. No, I thank you ; but, I pray, do us a 

 courtesy that shall stand you and your daughter 

 in nothing, and yet we will think ourselves still 

 something in your debt : it is but to sing us a song 

 that was sung by your daughter when I last passed 

 over this meadow, about eight or nine days since. 



Milkw. What song was it, I pray? Was it, 



1 Diminutive for Matilda. 



