238 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



from talking with me, that he might be so perfect 

 in this song. Was it not, master? 



Pise. Yes, indeed, for it is many years since I 

 learned it; and having forgotten a part of it, I was 

 forced to patch it up by the help of mine own in- 

 vention, who am not excellent at poetry, as my 

 part of the song may testify ; but of that I will say 

 no more, lest you should think I mean by discom- 

 mending it to beg your commendations of it. And 

 therefore, without replications, let 's hear your catch, 

 scholar, which I hope will be a good one, for you 

 are both musical and have a good fancy to boot. 



Ven. Marry, and that you shall, and as freely as 

 I would have my honest master tell me some more 

 secrets of fish and fishing as we walk and fish 

 towards London to-morrow. But, master, first let 

 me tell you that that very hour which you were ab- 

 sent from me, I sat down under a willow-tree by the 

 water-side, and considered what you had told me 

 of the owner of that pleasant meadow in which 

 you then left me : that he had a plentiful estate, 

 and not a heart to think so ; that he had at this 

 time many law-suits depending, and that they both 

 damped his mirth and took up so much of his 

 time and thoughts that he himself had not leisure 

 to take the sweet content that I, who pretended 

 no title to them, took in his fields : for I could 

 there sit quietly, and looking on the water, see 

 some fishes sport themselves in the silver streams, 

 others leaping at flies of several shapes and colors ; 

 looking on the hills, I could behold them spotted 



