iET. 62.] LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON: Iv 



duces them to Coridon, "an honest countryman, a most down- 

 right, witty, merry companion, that met me here purposely to eat 

 a trout, and to be pleasant." 



They sup off the trout which Piscator had caught, with such 

 other meat as the house afforded, moistening their cheer with 

 " some of the best barley wine, the good liquor that our good 

 honest forefathers did use to drink of, which preserved their health 

 and made them live so long, and to do so many good deeds." 



During their conversation Peter thus eulogised Piscator, " On 

 my word this trout is in perfect season. Come, I thank you, and 

 here is a hearty draught to you, and to all the brothers of the 

 Angle wheresoever they be, and to my young brother's good 

 fortune to-morrow ; I will furnish him with a rod, if you will 

 furnish him with the rest of the tackling, we will set him up and 

 make him a fisher ; and I will tell him one thing for his encourage- 

 ment, that his fortune hath made him happy to be a Scholar to 

 such a Master ; a Master that knows as much both of the nature 

 and breeding of fish as any man ; and can also tell him as well 

 how to catch and cook them, from the minnow to the salmon, as 

 any that I ever met vdthal." To which Piscator replied, " Trust 

 me, brother Peter, I find my Scholar to be so suitable to my own 

 humour, which is to be free and pleasant, and civilly merry, that 

 my resolution is to hide nothing that I know from him." 



They then agree to sing several songs and catches, which 

 Venator says, " shall give some addition of mirth to the company, 

 for we will be merry," upon which Piscator observes, " 'Tis a 

 match, my masters; let's even say grace, and turn to the fire, 

 drink the other cup to wet our whistles, and so sing away all 

 sad thoughts. Come on, my masters, who begins ? I think it 

 is best to draw cuts, and avoid contention." The lot falls to 

 Coridon, who begins, for "he hates contention." The song is 

 much admired by Piscator, who says, " Well sung, Coridon, this 

 song was sung with mettle and was choicely fitted to the occasion; 

 I shall love you for it as long as I know you : I would you were 

 a brother of the angle, for a companion that is cheerful, and free 

 from swearing and scurrilous discourse, is worth gold. I love 

 such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon one 

 another next morning ; nor men (that cannot well bear it) to 

 repent the money they spend when they be warmed with drink : 

 and take this for a rule, you may pick out such times and such 

 companies, that you may make yourselves merrier for a little, 

 than a great deal of money ; for 'tis the company and not the 



