270 THE COMPLETE ANGLER, PART I* 



others; and of that, the poor that dwell about him 

 have a comfortable experience. 



And now let's go and see what interest the Trouts 

 will pay us, for letting our angle-rods lie so long and 

 so quietly in the water for their use. Come, scholar I 

 which will you take up ? 



Ven. Which you think fit, master. 



Pise. Why, you shall take up that ; for I am cer* 

 tain, by viewing the line ? it has a fish at it. Look 

 you, scholar ! Avell done ! Come ! now, take up tha 

 other too ; well ! now you may tell my brother Peter, 

 at night, that you have caught a leash of Trouts this 

 day. And, now let's move towards our lodging ; and 

 drink a draught of red-cow's milk as we go, and give 

 pretty Maudlin and her honest mother a brace of 

 Trouts for their supper. 



Ven. Master ! 1 like your motion very well : and 

 I think it is now about milking-time ; and, yonder, 

 they be at it. 



Pise. God speed you, good woman ! I thank you both, 

 for our songs last night ; I and my companion have had 

 such fortune a fishing this day, that we resolve to give 

 you and Maudlin a brace of Trouts for supper; and 

 we will now taste a draught of your red-cow's milk. 



Mjlk-w. Marry ! and that you shall with all my heart; 

 and I will be still your debtor when you come this 

 way : If you will bat speak the word, I will make you 

 a good syllabub of new verjuice; and then you may 

 sit down in a haycock, and eat it, and Maudlin shall 

 sit by and sing you the good old song of the Hunting 

 in Chevy Chace, or some other good ballad, for she 

 hath good store of them ; Maudlin, my honest Maud- 

 lin, hath a notable memory ; and she thinks nothing 

 too good for you, because you be such honest men. 



}Fen. We thank you ; and intend, once in a month^ 

 to call upon you again, and, give you a little warn- 

 ing ; and, so good night ; good night, Maudlin ! And 

 now, good master ! let's lose no time : but tell me some- 

 what more of fishing ; arid if you please^ first, some- 

 thing of fishing for a Gudgeon. 



Pise. I will, honest scholar! 



