THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 65 



especially ; which, differ in their bigness and shape and spots 

 and colour. The great Kentish hens may be an instance, 

 compared to other hens. And, doubtless, there is a kind of 

 small trout, which will never thrive to be big ; that breeds 

 very many more than others do, that be of a larger size : 

 which you may rather believe, if you consider that the little 

 wren and titmouse will have twenty young ones at a time/' 1 " 

 when usually the noble hawk, or the musical thrassel or black- 

 bird, exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a trout ; and 

 at my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning, 

 I will give you direction how you yourself shall fish for him. 



YEN. Trust me, master, I see now it is a harder matter to 

 catch a trout than a chub : for I have put on patience, and 

 followed you these two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither 

 at your minnow nor your worm. 



Pise. Well, scholar, you must endure worse luck sometime, 

 or you will never make a good angler. But what say you 

 now? There is a trout now, and a good one too, if I can 

 but hold him, and two or three more turns will tire him. 

 Now you see he lies still, and the sleight is, to land him ; 

 reach me that landing net ; so, sir, now he is mine own, 

 what say you now 1 Is not this worth all my labour and 

 your patience ] 



YEN. On my word, master, this is a gallant trout ; what 

 shall we do with him ? 



Pise. Marry, e'en eat him to supper ; we'll go to my 

 hostess, from whence we came ; she told me, as I was going 

 out of door, that my brother Peter, a good angler and a cheer- 

 ful companion, had sent word that he would lodge there to- 

 night, and bring a friend with him. My hostess has two beds, 

 and I know you and I may have the best ; we'll rejoice with 

 my brother Peter and his friend, tell tales, or sing ballads, or 

 make a catch, or find some harmless sport to content us and 

 pass away a little time, without offence to God or man. 



VEN. A match, good master, let's go to that house; for the 

 linen looks white, and smells of lavender, and I love to lie in 

 a pair of sheets that smell so. Let's be going, good master, 

 for I am hungry again with fishing. 



Pise. Nay, stay a little, good scholar ; I caught my last 



* If Walton had said half the number, he would have been right. The wren 

 will sometimes lay a dozen eggs, but cannot hatch the whole of them. ED. 



E 



