192 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



If the sun's excessive heat 

 Make our bodies swelter, 

 To an osier-hedge we get 

 For a friendly shelter ; 



Where in a dike, 



Perch or pike, 



Roach or dace, 



We do chase ; 



Bleak or gudgeon, 



Without grudging : 

 We are still contented. 



Or we sometimes pass an hour 



Under a green willow, 

 That defends us from a shower 

 Making earth our pillow : 



Where we may 



Think and pray, 



Before death, 



Stops our breath : 



Other joys 



Are but toys, 

 And to be lamented. Jo. CHALKHILL. 



YEN". Well sung, master : this day's fortune and pleasure, 

 and this night's company and song, do all make me more and 

 more in love with angling. Gentlemen, my master left me 

 alone for an hour this day ; and I verily believe he retired 

 himself from talking with me, that he might be so perfect 

 in this song : was it not, master 1 



Pise. Yes, indeed ; for it is many years since I learned it, 

 and having forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it up 

 by the help of mine own invention, who am not excellent at 

 poetry, as my part of the song may testify : but of that I will 

 say no more, lest you should think I mean by discommending 

 it to beg your commendations of it. And therefore, without 

 replications, let us hear your catch, scholar, which I hope will 

 be a good one ; for you are both musical, and have a good 

 fancy to boot. 



YEN. Marry, and that you shall j and as freely as I would 

 have my honest master tell me some more secrets of fish and 

 fishing as we walk and fish towards London to-morrow. But, 

 master, first let me tell you, that very hour which you were 

 absent from me, I sat down under a willow tree by the water- 

 side, and considered what you had told me of the owner of 

 that pleasant meadow in which you had then left me ; that he 

 had a plentiful estate, and not a heart to think so ; that he 

 had at this time many law-suits depending, and that they 



