CHAP. III. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 53 



and get secretly behind the tree, and stand as free from 

 motion as is possible. Then put a grasshopper on your 

 hook, and let your hook hang a quarter of a yard short 

 of the water, to which end you must rest your rod on 

 some bough of the tree. But it is likely the Chubs will 

 sink down towards the bottom of the water, at the 

 first shadow of your rod, (for Chub is the fearfulest of 

 fishes,) and will do so if but a bird flies over him and 

 makes the least shadow on the water. But they will 

 presently rise up to the top again, and there lie soaring 

 till some shadow affrights them again. I say, when 

 they lie upon the top of the water, look out the best 

 Chub, (which you, setting yourself in a fit place, may 

 very easily see,) and move your rod as softly as a snail 

 moves, to that Chub you intend to catch; let your bait 

 fall gently upon the water three or four inches before 

 him, and he will infallibly take the bait. And you 

 will be as sure to catch him; for he is one of the lea- 

 ther-mouthed fishes, of which a hook does scarce ever 

 lose its hold; and therefore give him play enough be- 

 fore you offer to take him out of the water. Go your 

 way presently; take my rod, and do as I bid you; and 

 I will sit down and mend my tackling till you return 

 back. 



Yen. Truly, my loving master, you have offered me as 

 fair as I could wish. I'll go, and observe your directions. 



Look you, master, what I have done, that which joys 

 my heart, caught just such another Chub as your's was. 



Pise. Marry, and I am glad of it: I am li) to have 

 a towardly scholar of you. I now see, that witti advice 

 and practice, you will make an Angler in a short time. 

 Have but a love to it; and I'll warrant you. 



Ven. But, master ! what if I could not have found 

 a grasshopper? 



Pise. Then I may tell you, that a black snail, with 



