The Compleat ^Angler 



And when the timorous trout I wait 

 To take, and be devours my bait, 

 How poor a thing, sometimes I find, 

 Will captivate a greedy mind ; 



And when none bite, I praise the wise, 



Whom vain allurements ne^er surprise. 



But yet, though while I fish I fast, 

 I make good fortune my repast; 

 And thereunto my friend invite, 

 In whom I more than that delight: 



Who is more welcome to my dish 



Than to my angle was my fish. 



As well content no prize to take, 

 As use of taken prize to make : 

 For so our Lord was pleased, when 

 He fishers made fishers of men ; 



Where (which is in no other game) 



A man may fish and praise His name. 



The first men that our Saviour dear 

 Did choose to wait upon Him here, 

 Blessed fishers were, and fish the last 

 Food was that He on earth did taste: 



I therefore strive to follow those 



Whom He to follow Him hath chose. 



COR. Well sung, brother, you have paid your debt in good coin. 

 We anglers are all beholden to the good man that made this song : 

 come, hostess, give us more ale, and let's drink to him. 



And now let's every one go to bed, that we may rise early : but 

 first let's pay our reckoning, for I will have nothing to hinder me in 

 the morning, for my purpose is to prevent the sun-rising. 



PETER. A match. Come, Coridon, you are to be my bedfellow. 

 I know, brother, you and your scholar will lie together. But where 

 shall we meet to-morrow night ? for my friend Coridon and I will go 

 up the water towards Ware. 



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