CHAP, ii.] THE THIRD DAY. 65 



men this morning, that the sun is got so high, and shines so clear, 

 that I will not undertake the catching of a Trout till evening. And 

 though a Chub be, by you and many others, reckoned the worst 

 of fish, yet you shall see I'll make it a good fish by dressing it. 



VENATOR. Why, how will you dress him ? 



PISCATOR. I'll tell you by-and-by, when I have caught him. 

 Look you here, Sir, do you see ? but you must stand very close, 

 there lie upon the top of the water, in this very hole, twenty 

 Chubs. I'll catch only one, and that shall be the biggest of them 

 all : and that I will do so, I'll hold you twenty to one, and you 

 shall see it done. 



VENATOR. Ay, marry ! Sir, now you talk like an artist ; and 

 I'll say you are one, when I shall see you perform what you say 

 you can do : but I yet doubt it. 



PISCATOR. You shall not doubt it long ; for you shall see me 

 do it presently. Look ! the biggest of these Chubs has had some 

 bruise upon his tail, by a Pike or some other accident ; and that 

 looks like a white spot. That very Chub I mean to put into your 

 hands presently ; 6 sit you but down in the shade, and stay but a 

 little while ; and I'll warrant you I'll bring him to you. 



VENATOR. I'll sit down ; and hope well, because you seem to 

 be so confident. 



PISCATOR. Look you, Sir, there is a trial of my skill ; there he 

 is : that very Chub, that I showed you, with the white spot on his 

 tail. And I'll be as certain to make him a good dish of meat as 

 I was to catch him : I'll now lead you to an honest alehouse, 

 where we shall find a cleanly room, lavender in the windows, and 

 twenty ballads stuck about the wall. There my hostess, which I 

 may tell you is both cleanly, and handsome, and civil, hath 

 dressed 7 many a one for me ; and shall now dress it after my 

 fashion, and I warrant it good meat.* 



VENATOR. Come, Sir, with all my heart, for I begin to be 

 hungry, and long to be at it, and indeed to rest myself too ; for 

 though I have walked but four miles this morning, yet I begin to 

 be weary ; yesterday's hunting hangs still upon me. 



PISCATOR. Well, Sir, and you shall quickly be at rest, for 

 yonder is the house I mean to bring you to. 



VARIATIONS. 



e I mean to catch, sit you, &c. ist and -zd edit. 



^ There my hostess, which I may tell you is both cleanly and conveniently handsome, 

 has dressed, &c. ist edit. 



* The word " meat" was then used synonymously with food. Thus corn and hay for 

 horses were called horse-meat. 



