CHAP, V. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 193 



of the company joined to sing the burthen with her, 

 The ditty was this : but first the burthen : 



Bright shines the sun. Play beggars plat/ ,* 

 Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



What noise of viols is so sweet, 



As when our merry clappers ring ? 

 What mirth doth want, when beggars meet ? 



A beggar's life is for a king. 

 Eat, drink, and play ; s'eep when we list, 

 Go where we will, so stocks be mist. 



Bright shines the ttu>i. Play beggars play y 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



The worM is ours, and ours alone ; 



For we alone "have world at will. 

 W purchase not ; all is our own ; 



Both fields and streets we beggars fill. 



Play beggars t play; play beggars play; 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



A hundred herds of black and white 



Upon our gowns securely feed ; 

 And yet if any dare us bite, 



He dies therefore, as sure as creed. 

 Thus beggars lord it as they please, 

 And only beggars live at ease. 



Bright shines the sun. Play beggars play, 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



Ven. I thank you, good master ! for this piece of 

 merriment ; and this song, which was well humoured 

 by the maker, and well remembered by you. 



Pise. But, I pray, forget not the catch which you 

 promised to make against night ; for our countryman, 

 honest Coridon, will expect your catch, and my song, 

 which I must be forced to patch up, for it is so long 

 since I learnt it, that I have forgot a part of it. But, 

 come ! now it hath done raining, let's stretch our legs 

 a little in a gentle walk to the river ; and, try what in- 

 terest our angles will pay us, for lending them so long 



