94 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



PART I. 





made forty years ago; and all the others of the company joined 

 to sing the burthen with her. The ditty was this: but first 

 the burthen : 



" Bright shines the sun ; play, beggars, play ! 

 Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



What noise of viols is so sweet 



As when our merry clappers ring? 

 What mirth doth want when beggars meet? 



A beggar's life is for a king, 

 Eat, drink, and play, sleep when we list, 

 Go where we will so stocks be miss'd. 



Bright shines the sun; play, beggars, play ! 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



The world is ours, and purs alone ; 



For we alone have world at will. 

 Wr pnrrhrnr nnt ill ii pir n-rn ; 



Both fields and streets we beggars fill. 



Bright shines the sun ; play, beggars, play ! 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day. 



A hundred herds of black and white 



Upon our gowns securely feed ; 

 And yet if any dare us bite, 



He dies, therefore, as sure as creed. 

 Thus beggars lord it as they please, 

 Aja ^ on 1 ^ beggars live at ease. 



Bright shines the sun ; play, beggars, play ! 



Here's scraps enough to serve to-day." 



VEN. I thank you, good master, for this piece of merriment, 

 and this song, which was well humoured by the maker, and well 

 remembered by you. 



PiSC. But, I pray, forget not the catch which you promised 

 to make against night ; for our countryman, honest Coridon, 

 will expect your catch, and my song, which I must be forced 

 to patch up, for it is so long since I learnt it, that I have for- 

 gotten a, part of it. But come, now it hath done raining, let's 

 stretch oxar legs a little in a gentle walk to the river, and try 



