CHAP. XXL] THE FIFTH DAY. 203 



a fire, and let it boil softly for half an hour ; and then take out 

 your hair, and let it dry ; and having so done, then take a pottle 

 of water, and put into it two handfuls of marigolds, and cover it 

 with a tile or what you think fit, and set it again on the fire, 

 where it is to boil again softly for half an hour, about which time 

 the scum will turn yellow ; then put into it half a pound of 

 copperas, beaten small, and with it the hair that you intend to 

 colour ; then let the hair be boiled softly till half the liquor be 

 wasted, and then let it cool three or four hours, with your hair in 

 it ; and you are to observe that the more copperas you put into 

 it, the greener it will be ; but doubtless the pale green is best. 

 But if you desire yellow hair, which is only good when the weeds 

 rot, then put in more marigolds ; and abate most of the copperas, 

 or leave it quite out, and take a little verdigris instead of it. 



This for colouring your hair. 



And as for painting your Rod, which must be in oil, you must 

 first make a size with glue and water, boiled together until the 

 glue be dissolved, and the size of a lye-colour : then strike your 

 size upon the wood with a bristle, or a brush or pencil, whilst it 

 is hot : that being quite dry, take white-lead, and a little red lead, 

 and a little coal-black, so much as altogether will make an ash- 

 colour : grind these altogether with linseed oil ; let it be thick, 

 and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pencil : this do for 

 the ground of any colour to lie upon wood. 



For a green, take pink and verdigris, and grind them together 

 in linseed oil, as thin 9 as you can well grind it : then lay it 

 smoothly on with your brush, and drive it thin ; once doing, for 

 the most part, will serve, if you lay it well ; and if twice, be sure 

 your first colour be thoroughly dry before you lay on a second. 1 



Well, Scholar, having now taught you to paint your rod, and 

 we having still a mile to Tottenham High Cross, I will, as we 

 walk towards it in the cool shade of this sweet honeysuckle hedge, 

 mention to you some of the thoughts and joys that have possessed 

 my soul since we two met together. And these thoughts shall be 



VARIATIONS. 



9 thick. ist edit. 



1 In the first, second, and third editions, Piscator continues : "Well, Scholar, you 

 now see Tottenham, and I am weary, and therefore glad that we are so near it : but if 

 I were to walk many more days with you, I could still be telling you more and more of 

 the mysterious art of angling ; but I will hope for another opportunity, and then I will 

 acquaint you with many more both necessary and true observations concerning fish and 

 fishing : but now no more, let's turn into yonder arbour, for it's a clean and a cool place." 

 To which Venator replies : " "Tis a fair motion, and I will requite a part of your 

 courtesies with a bottle of sack, and milk, and oranges, and sugar, which all put together, 

 make a drink too good for anybody but us anglers," &c. 



