liv LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. [1655, 



cast away all care, and sung like a nightingale ; her voice was 

 good, and the ditty fitted for it ; 'twas that smooth song which 

 was made by Kit Marlowe, now at least fifty years ago, and the 

 milkmaid's 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 that now 

 in fashion in this critical age. Look yonder, on my word, yonder 

 they be both a-milking again ; I will give her the chub, and per- 

 suade them to sing those two songs for us." 



A dialogue then takes place between Piscator and the milk- 

 women : 



" PISCATOR. God speed, good woman, I have been a-fishing, and am 

 going to Bleak Hall to my bed, and having caught more fish than will sup 

 myself and friend, will bestow this upon you and your daughter, for I use 

 to sell none. 



" MILK- WOMAN. Marry, God requite you, Sir, and we'll eat it cheer- 

 fully ; and if you come this way a-fishing two months hence, a grace of 

 God I'll give you a sillabub of new verjuice, in a new made hay-cock, and 

 my Maudlin 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 meantime will 

 you drink a draught of red cow's milk, you shall have it freely ? 



" PISCATOR. No, I thank you, but I pray do us a courtesy that shall 

 stand you and your daughter in nothing, and we will think ourselves still 

 something in your debt ; it is but to sing us a song, that was sung by you 

 and your daughter when I last passed over this meadow, about eight or 

 nine days since. 



" MILK-WOMAN. What song was it, I pray ? was it ' Come, shepherds, 

 deck your heads,' or ' As at noon Dulcina rested,' or ' Philida flouts me ' ? 



"PISCATOR. No, it is none of these : it is a song that your daughter 

 sung the first part, and you sung the answer to it. 



" MILK-WOMAN. Oh, I know it now : I learned the first part in my 

 golden age, when I was about the age of my daughter ; and the latter part, 

 which indeed fits me best, but two or three years ago, when the cares of 

 the world began to take hold of me ; but you shall, God willing, hear them 

 both. Come, Maudlin, sing the first part to the gentlemen with a merry 

 heart, and I'll sing the second when you have done." 



The milkmaid accordingly sings, and is answered by a song from 

 her mother: Piscator thanks them, and Venator appears to have ex- 

 pressed his gratitude in a more affectionate manner than his sedate 

 companion approved, for his Master observes, "Scholar, let Maudlin 

 alone, do not you offer to spoil her voice. Look, yonder comes my 

 Hostess to call us to supper. How now? is my brother Peter come?" 



"HOSTESS. Yes, and a friend with him, they are both glad to hear you 

 are in these parts, and long to see you, and are hungry, and long to be at 

 supper." 



Piscator and Venator then meet " brother Peter," who intro- 



