OF PURFLING AGAIN 283 



Pise : Very gladly, scholar. What goodly 

 plums are here ! Oh me ! your cake hath stones 

 in it, sir. Whither now, good scholar ? 



VEN : A fish rose, sir. 



Pise : Can you point him out ? 



VEN : Nay, sir, I have my eye upon the very 

 spot in the middle of the pool, but I should be 

 hard put to it to show it to you. Why, I have 

 him at the first attempt. 



Pise : I will put the net under him for you, 

 for let me tell you, scholar, that this feat is no easy 

 one, and not to be essayed by an unskilful hand. 

 For if in landing of a fish the net do but touch 

 the line, he shall break all. Bring him nearer to 

 this tussock so 



VEN : Alas, master, he is gone. 



Pise: Scholar, you will do better yet, but I 

 must tell you that you managed clumsily. Why 

 did you suffer the line to touch the net ? 



VEN : Dear master, it seemed to me 



Pise : No matter, sir. You will do better, trust 

 me. I have in you a towardly scholar, but no one 

 may learn this art in a morning's fishing. I pro- 

 test that the day is over sultry ; I will sit awhile 

 beneath this fine tree and read old Epictetus in the 

 shade. Angle, if you will ; but, trust me, you may 

 not look for sport before evening. 



