CIIAF. XVI.] THE FOUBTH DAY. 263 



If the sun's excessive heat 

 Make our bodies swelter, 

 To an osier-hedge we get 

 For a friendly shelter ; 



Where in a dike 



Pearch or pike, 



Roach or dace, 



We do chase, 



Bleak or gudgeon 



Without grudging ; 

 We are still contented. 



Or we sometimes pass an hour 

 Under a green willow ; 

 That defends us from a shower, 

 Making earth our pillow ; 



Where we may 



Think and pray, 



Before death 



Stops our breath : 



Other joys 



Are but toys, 

 And to be lamented. Jo. CHALKHILL. 1 



Yen. Well sung, master! This day's fortune and pleasure, 

 and this night's company and song, do all make me more 

 and more in love with angling. Gentlemen, my master left 

 me alone for an hour this day ; and I verily believe he 

 retired himself from talking with me, that he might be so 

 perfect in this song ; was it not, master ? 



Pise. Yes, indeed, for it is many years since I learned it : 

 and, having forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it 

 up by the help of mine own invention, who am not excellent 

 at poetry, as my part of the song may testify : but of that 

 I will say no more, lest you should think I mean by dis- 

 commending it to beg your commendations of it. And 

 therefore, without replications, let's hear your catch, 

 scholar ; which I hope will be a good one, for you are both 

 musical and have a good fancy to boot. 



Ten. Marry, and that you shall ; and as freely as I would 



1 The name is affixed for the first time to the third edition. It appears 

 from the statement of Piscator, which immediately follows, that though 

 this song was chiefly written by Chalkhill, yet that Walton having forgotten 

 some parts of it, had himself supplied the deficiencies ; hence it affords 

 another specimen of his poetical talents. SIR H. NICOLAS. 



