Ivi LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. [1653, 



charge makes the feast : and such a companion you prove, I 

 thank you for it. But I will not compliment you out of the debt^ 

 that I owe you, and therefore I will begin my song, and wish it 

 may be as well liked." 



Piscator is also rewarded by the applause of his companions for 

 his song, and after the following dialogue they separate for the 

 night : 



" CoRIDON. Well sung, brother, you have paid your debt in good coin, 

 we Anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this song. Come, 

 hostess, give us more ale, and let's drink to him : and now let's every one 

 go to bed, that we may rise early ; but first let's pay our reckoning, for I 

 will have nothing to hinder me in the morning, for my purpose is to prevent 

 the sun-rising. 



"Peter. A match: Come, Coridon, you are to be my bedfellow: I 

 know, brother, you and your scholar will lie together ; but where shall we 

 meet to-morrow night ? for my friend Coridon and I will go up the water 

 towards Ware. 



" Piscator. And my scholar and I will go down towards Waltham. 



" Coridon. Then let's meet here, for here are fresh sheets that smell 

 of lavender ; and I am sure we cannot expect better meat, or better usage 

 in any place. 



"Peter. 'Tisamatch. Good-night to everybody." 



The Fourth day is thus introduced : 



"Piscator. Good-morrow, good hostess, I see my brother Peter is 

 still in bed. Come, give my scholar and me a morning-drink, and a bit of 

 meat to breakfast, and be sure to get a dish of meat or two against supper, 

 for we shall come home as hungry as hawks. Come, scholar, lets be, 

 going. 



"Venator. Well now, good master, as we walk towards the river, 

 give me direction according to your promise, how I shall fish for a trout. 



" Piscator. My honest scholar, I will take this very convenient 

 opportunity to do it." 



Then follow Piscator's directions on the subject, which occupy 

 the time until past five o'clock, when their walk is stopped by the 

 river, on the bank of which they sit, under a honeysuckle hedge, 

 whilst Piscator finds a line to fit the rod which Peter had lent 

 Venator. They agree to fish until nine, and then go to breakfast. 



After fishing for some time they " say grace and fall to break- 

 fast," and Piscator asks, " What say you, scholar, to the provi- 

 dence of an old angler ? Does not this meat taste well .i" and was 

 not this place well chosen to eat it ; for this sycamore-tree will 

 shade us from the sun's heat ?" Their meal suggests reflections 

 on temperance in eating ; and Piscator proceeds with his instruc- 

 tions, but as a heavy shower falls they again take shelter under 

 the sycamore-tree. When it had done raining, Piscator called his 



