OBSERVATIONS OF THE OTTER AND CHUB 



reckoned the worst of fish, yet you shall see I '11 make it a 

 good fish, by dressing it. 



VEN. Why, how will you dress him ? 



Pise. I '11 tell you by and by, when I have caught him. 

 Look you here, Sir, do you see ? but you must stand very close, 

 there lie upon the top of the water in this very hole twenty 

 Chubs, I '11 catch only one, and that shall be the biggest of 

 them all : and that I will do so, I '11 hold you twenty to one, 

 and you shall see it done. 



VEN. Ay, marry Sir, now you talk like an artist, and I '11 

 say you are one, when I shall see you perform what you say 

 you can do ; but I yet doubt it. 



Pise. You shall not doubt it long, for you shall see me do 

 it presently : look, the biggest of these Chubs has had some 

 bruise upon his tail, by a Pike or some other accident, and 

 that looks like a white spot ; that very Chub I mean to put 

 into your hands presently ; sit you but down in the shade, and 

 stay but a little while, and I '11 warrant you I '11 bring him 

 to you. 



VEN. I '11 sit down and hope well, because you seem to be 

 so confident. 



Pise. Look you Sir, there is a trial of my skill, here he is ; 

 that very Chub that I shewed you with the white spot on his 

 tail : and I '11 be as certain to make him a good dish of meat, 

 as I was to catch him. I'll now lead you to an honest Ale- 

 house where we shall find a cleanly room, lavender in the 

 windows, and twenty ballads stuck about the wall ; there my 

 Hostess, which I may tell you, is both cleanly and handsome 

 and civil, hath dressed many a one for me, and shall now dress 

 it after my fashion, and I warrant it good meat. 



VEN. Come Sir, with all my heart, for I begin to be hungry, 

 and long to be at it, and indeed to rest myself too ; for though 

 I have walked but four miles this morning, yet I begin to be 

 weary ; yesterday's hunting hangs still upon me. 



Pise. Well Sir, and you shall quickly be at rest, for yonder 

 is the house I mean to bring you to. 



Come Hostess, how do you? Will you first give us a cup 

 of your best drink, and then dress this Chub, as you dressed 

 my last, when I and my friend were here about eight or ten 



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