94 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Whose sweet calm course I contemplate, 

 And seek in life to imitate : 



In civil bounds I fain would keep, 



And for my past offences weep. 



And when the timorous Trout I wait 

 To take, and he devours my bait, 

 How poor a thing sometimes I find 

 Will captivate a greedy mind : 



And when none bite, I praise the wise, 



Whom vain allurements ne'er surprise. 



But yet, though while I fish I fast, 

 I make good fortune my repast ; 

 And thereunto my friend invite, 

 In whom 1 more than that delight : 



Who is more welcome to my dish 



Than to my angle was my fish. 



As well content no prize to take, 

 As use of taken prize to make : 

 For so our Lord was pleased, when 

 He fishers made fishers of men ; 



Where (which is in no other game) 



A man may fish and praise his name. 



The first men that our Saviour dear 

 Did choose to wait upon him here 

 Bless'd fishers were, and fish the last 

 Food was that he on earth did taste : 



I therefore strive to follow those 



Whom he to follow him hath chose. 



Coridon. Well sung, brother ! you have paid your debt in 

 good coin. We anglers are all beholden to the good man that 

 made this song: come, hostess, give us more ale, and let's 

 drink to him. 



And now let 's every one go to bed, that we may rise early : 

 but first let's pay our reckoning, for I will have nothing to 

 hinder me in the morning ; for my purpose is to prevent the 

 sun rising. 



Peter. A match. Come, Coridon, you are to be my bed- 

 fellow. I know, brother, you and your scholar will lie together. 

 But where shall we meet to-morrow night ? for my friend 

 Coridon and I will go up the water towards Ware. 



Piscator. And my scholar and I will go down towards 

 Waltham. 



Coridon. Then let's meet here, for here are fresh sheets that 

 smell of lavender ; and I am sure we cannot expect better meat 

 or better usage in any place. 



