THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 197 



Where we may 

 Think and pray. 

 Before death 

 Stops our breath: 

 Other joys 

 Are but toys. 

 And to be lamented. 



Jo. Chalkhill.* 



Ven. Well sung, Master ; this day's fortune and pleasure, and 

 this night's company and song, do all make me more and more 

 in love with angling. Gentlemen, my Master left me alone for 

 an hour this day ; and I verily believe he retired himself from 

 talking with me, that be might be so perfect in this song : was it 

 not. Master? 



Pisc. Yes indeed ; for it is many years since I learned it, and 

 having forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it up by the 

 help of mine own invention, who am not excellent at poetry, as 

 my part of the song may testify : but of that I will say no more, 

 lest you should think I mean by discommending it to beg your 

 commendation of it. And therefore, without replications, let us 

 hear your catch. Scholar, which I hope will be a good one ; for 

 you are both musical, and have a good fancy to boot. 



Ven. Marry, and that you shall ; and as freely as I would 

 have my honest Master tell me some more secrets of fish and 

 fishing as we walk and fish towards London to-morrow. But, 

 Master, first let me tell you, that very hour which you were ab- 

 sent from me, I sat down under a willow-tree by the water-side, 

 and considered what you had told me of the owner of that plea- 

 sant meadow in which you then left me ; that he had a plentiful 

 estate, and not a heart to think so ; that he had at this time many 

 law-suits depending, and that they both damped his mirth, and 

 took up so much of his time and thoughts, that he himself had 



* The name is affixed, for the first time, in the third edition. It ap- 

 pears from the statement of Piscator just below that, though this song 

 was originally written by Chalkhill, Walton, having forgotten some parts 

 of it, had himself supplied the deficiencies, which affords another speci- 

 men of his poetical talents. Sir Harris JVicholas. Notice was taken of 

 Chalkhill in the Bib. Preface, Ixviii. \xx.—Am. Ed. 



