CHAP. ii. THE SECOND DAY. 49 



turn to an honest cleanly hostess that i know right well ; rest 

 ourselves there ; and dress it for our dinner. 



VEN. Oh, sir ! a chub is the worst fish that swims ; I hoped 

 for a trout to my dinner. 



PiSC. Trust me, sir, there is not a likely place for a trout 

 hereabout : and we stayed so long to take leave of your huntsmen 

 this morning, that the sun is got so high, and shines so clear, 

 that I will not undertake the catching of a trout till evening. 

 And though a chub be, by you and many others, reckoned the 

 worst of fish ; yet you shall see I'll make it a good fish by 

 dressing it. 



VEN. Why, how will you dress him ? 



PiSC. I'll tell you by-and-by, when J 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'll catch only one, and that shall be the biggest of them all ; 

 and that I will do so, I'll hold you twenty to one, and you shall 

 see it done. 



VEN. Ay, marry, sir, now you talk like an artist, and I'll say 

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

 can do ; but I yet doubt it. 



PiSC. 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'll warrant you I'll bring him 

 to you. 



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

 confident. 



PiSC. Look you, sir, there is a trial of my skill, there he is, 

 that very chub that I showed you with the white spot on his 

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

 I was to catch him. I'll now lead you to an honesty ale-hfluse 

 where \ve_shall find a cleanly room. Javender" in the windows, 

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

 wKTcii, I may tell you, is both cleanly and handsome, and civil, 



4 



