CHAP. II. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 49 



very close,) there lie upon the top of the water, in this 

 very hole, twenty Chubs. I'll catch only one, and that 

 shall be the biggest of them all : and that I will do so, I'll 

 hold you twenty to one : and you shall see it done. 



Ven. Ay, marry ! Sir, now you talk like an artist ; and 

 I'll say you are one, wheji I shall see you perform what 

 you say you can do : but I yet doubt it. 



Pise. You shall not doubt it long ; for you shall see me 

 do it presently. Look ! the biggest of these Chubs has 

 had some bruise upon his tail, by a Pike, or some other 

 accident ; and that looks like a white spot. That very 

 Chub I mean to put into your hands presently : sit you 

 but down in the shade ; and stay but a little while ; and, 

 I'll warrant you, I'll bring him to you. 



Ven. I'll sit down, and hope well ; because you seem to 

 be so confident. 



Pise. Look you, Sir, there is a trial of my skill; there 

 he is; that very Chub, that I shewed you, with the white 

 spot on his tail. And I'll be as certain to make him a 

 good dish of meat, as I was to catch him: I'll now lead 

 you to an honest ale-house, where we shall find a cleanly 

 room, lavender in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck 

 about the wall. 1 There my hostess (which I may tell you 

 is both cleanly, and handsome, and civil) hath dressed 

 many a one for me; and shall now dress it after my 

 fashion, and I warrant it good meat. 



Ven. Come, Sir, with all my heart, for I begin to be 

 hungry, and long to be at it, and indeed to rest myself 

 too ; for though I have walked but four miles this morn- 

 ing, yet I begin to be weary ; yesterday's hunting hangs 

 still upon me. 



Pise. Well, Sir, and you shall quickly be at rest ; for 

 yonder is the house I mean to bring you to. 



(1) A very homely, artless, and yet a picturesque scene; and I wish the 

 honest angler no worse entertainment than many such houses as this afford. 



E 



