184 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



lodging, and drink a draught of red cow's milk as we go ; 

 and give pretty Maudlin and her honest mother a brace of 

 trouts for their supper. 



VEN. Master, I like your motion very well ; and I think it 

 is now about milking-time ; and yonder they be at it. 



Pise. God speed you, good woman ! I thank you both for 

 our songs last night : I and my companion have had such 

 fortune a-fishing this day, that we resolve to give you and 

 Maudlin a brace of trouts for supper; and we will now taste 

 a draught of your red cow's milk. 



MiLK-W. Marry, and that you shall with all my heart ; 

 and I will still be your debtor when you come this way. If 

 you will but speak the word, I will make you a good syllabub 

 of new verjuice ; and then you may sit down in a haycock, 

 and eat it ; and Maudlin shall sit by and sing you the good 

 old song of the " Hunting in Chevy Chase," or some other 

 good ballad, for she hath store of them ; Maudlin, my honest 

 Maudlin, hath a notable memory, and she thinks nothing too 

 good for you, because you be such honest men. 



VEN. We thank you ; and intend once in a month, to call 

 upon you again, and give you a little warning ; and so, good 

 night ; good night, Maudlin. And now, good master, let's 

 lose no time ; but tell me somewhat more of fishing ; and, if 

 you please, first, something of fishing for a gudgeon. 



Pise. I will, honest scholar. 



[REMARKS ON THE BAKBEL. Very little can be added to improve 

 tins excellent, and practically and prettily written chapter practical 

 for the greater part of it, and very pleasant towards its close. The river 

 Lea, Walton's pet river, abounded in fine barbel in his day, and is not 

 devoid of them now. So did the Thames, and it still does so. The 

 best rivers in England for barbel, are the Thames and the Trent ; and 

 the best mode of fishing for the bearded, fluvial grenadier, is by means 

 of the ledger-line. I'll tell you how it is made. On your foot-line of 

 strong gut, about eighteen inches above the hook, fasten a number four 

 shot, and twelve inches above that another shot of the same size. 

 Between the shots the line should consist of gimp ; and between them 

 there must be a perforated bullet freely so, to allow the gimp to run 

 through easily. Instead of shots, double knots will answer. Your hook 

 should be a number six, and your bait a large well-scoured lob-worm, 

 or better, two middle-sized ones. Your winch line should run freely 

 off the winch. Pull in your bullet to within a yard of the top of the 

 rod, and then fling it to the spot which has been already ground-baited 

 with lob-worms. When the bullet sinks, it will rock to and fro in the 

 stream, and your worms will keep moving with it. When the bait is 

 seized, the barbel will run with it until it is checked by the bullet coming 



