78 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART 1 



This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consideration 

 of a wise man. But of this no more, for though I love civil- 

 ity, yet I hate severe censures : I '11 to my own art, and I doubt 

 not but at yonder tree I shall catch a Chub, and then we'll 

 turn to an honest cleanly hostess, that I know right well, rest 

 ourselves there, and dress it for our dinner. 



YEN. O Sir ! a Chub is the worst fish that swims ; I hoped 

 for a Trout to my dinner. 



Pise. Trust me, Sir, there is not a likely place for a Trout 

 hereabout, and we stayed so long to take our leave of your 

 huntsmen this morning, that the sun has 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 '11 make it a good 

 fish by dressing it. 



VEN. Why, how will you dress him ? 



Pise. I'll 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 big- 

 gest 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. 



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

 so confident. 



