THE TROUT. 129 



hence, a grace of God, I '11 give you a syllabub of new ver- 

 juice in a new-made hay-cock for it, and my Maudlin shall 

 sing you one of her best ballads; for she and I both love all 

 anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men : in the mean- 

 time will you drink a draught of red cow's milk ? you shall 

 have it freely. 



PlSC. No, I thank you ; but, I pray, do us a courtesy that 

 shall stand you and your daughter in nothing, and yet we 

 will think ourselves still something in your debt : it is but 

 to sing us a song that was sung by your daughter when I 

 last passed over this meadow about eight or nine days since. 



MlLK-W. What song was it, I pray? Was it "Come, 

 Shepherds, deck your heads"? or, "As at noon Dulcina 

 rested " ? or, " Phillida flouts me " ? or, " Chevy Chace " ? or, 

 "Johnny Armstrong " ? or, " Troy Town " ? 



PlSC. No, it is none of those ; it is a song that your 

 daughter sang the first part, and you sang the answer to it. 



MlLK-W. O, I know it now. I learned the first part in 

 my golden age, when I was about the age of my poor daugh- 

 ter ; and the latter part, which indeed fits me best now, but 

 two or three years ago, when the cares of the world began 

 to take hold of me : but you shall, God willing, hear them 

 both, and sung as well as we can, for we both love anglers. 

 Come, Maudlin, sing the first part to the gentlemen with a 

 merry heart, and I '11 sing the second, when you have done. 



THE MILKMAID'S SONG.* 



Come, live with me, and be my love, 

 And we will all the pleasures prove 

 That valleys, groves, or hills, or field, 

 Or woods and steepy mountains yield ; 



