282 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



soft, and flimsy food, more fitted for the tea-table 

 of a gentlewoman than for the dinner of an honest 

 angler. It is ever my way to carry with me in 

 my fish-bag a cold pullet's leg and a lettuce, a 

 piece of good, dry wheaten bread, and such fruit 

 as is in season. Ah hah ! sir, I see your mouth 

 begin to water. What say you to the providence 

 of an old angler ? Come, scholar, here is our tree, 

 and now let us fall to. 



VEN : Oh, master, what is the matter ? 



Pise: That feather-brained wench hath forgotten 

 to furnish me with my dinner. A murrain 



VEN : Nay, my loving master, will you not 

 share mine ? A sandwich 



Pise : Oh, my dear scholar, shall I not be rob- 

 bing you ? Thank you, sir, I will try another. I 

 protest that these sandwiches are vastly well ; 

 though this one hath more gristle in it than I could 

 wish. Nay, sir, but one more and I am filled. 

 No more, I thank you. 



VEN : Why, sir, I shall not eat it ; would you 

 see it wasted ? 



Pise : Nay, that were a sin, and I would rather 

 have it on my stomach than on my conscience. 



VEN : You are merry, sir. 



Pise : That is a gallant hunch of cake. 



VEN : Will you try it, sir ? 



