THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 195 



day ; all the time that it rained we were there, and as merry as 

 they that fished ; and I am glad we are now with a dry house 

 over our heads, for hark how it rains and blows. Come, Hostess, 

 give us more ale, and our supper with what haste you may : and 

 when we have supped let us have your song, Piscator, and the 

 catch that your Scholar promised us ; or else Coridon will be 

 dogged. 



Pisc. Nay, I will not be worse than my word : you shall not 

 want my song, and I hope I shall be perfect in it. 



Ven. And I hope the like for my catch, which I have ready 

 too ; and therefore let's go merrily to supper, and then have a 

 gentle touch at singing and drinking ; but the last with modera- 

 tion. 



Cor. Come, now for your song, for we have fed heartily. 

 Come, Hostess, lay a few more sticks on the fire ; and now sing 

 when you will. 



Pisc. Well, then, here's to you, Coridon : and now for my 



song. 



Oh the gallant fisher's life., 



It is the best of any ; 



' Tis full of pleasure, void of strife, 



And 'tis belov'd by many : 



Other joys 



Are but toys ; 



Only this 



Lawful is : 



For our skill 



Breeds no ill. 

 But content and pleasure. 



In a morning up we rise. 

 Ere Aurora's peeping. 

 Drink a cup to wash our eyes. 

 Leave the sluggard sleeping : 



Then we go 



To and fro, 



pad to take the aire, in playing at shovel-board, and in reading of play- 

 bookes for recreation, and especially in fish and fish-ponds, seldom using 

 any other exercises, and these rightly as pastimes only for a short and 

 convenient time, and with great variety of change from one to the other." 

 Strutt, also, records an anecdote of Prince Henry, eldest son of James L, 

 playing at shovel-board with his tutor. — Am. Ed. 



