94 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



is able to do ; and I know what the poet says in the like 

 case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people 

 of civility : 



Many a one 



Owes to his country his religion ; 

 And in another would as strongly grow, 

 Had but his nurse or mother taught him so. 



This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consider- 

 ation of a wise man. But of this no more ; for though I love 

 civility, 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. 



VEN. O, Sir ! a chub is the worst fish that swims ; I 

 hoped for a trout to my dinner. 



PlSC. Trust me, Sir, there is not a likely place for a trout 

 hereabout ; and we staid so long to take leave of your hunts- 

 men this morning, that the sun is 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 ? 



PlSC. I '11 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 

 biggest 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 



