perfumes arising from the place make all dogs that hunt in it to fall off, and to lose their hottest scent. I say, as I thus sat, joying in my own happy condition, and pitying this poor rich man that owned this and many other pleasant groves and meadows about me, I did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, that the meek possess the earth; or rather, they enjoy what the others possess, and enjoy not; for anglers and meek quiet-spirited men are free from those high, those restless thoughts, which corrode the sweets of life; and they, and they only, can say, as the poet has happily exprest it, Hail ! blest estate of lowliness; Happy enjoyments of such minds Can, like the reeds, in roughest winds, At which proud oaks and cedars fall. There came also into my mind at that time, certain verses in praise of a mean estate and humble mind : they were written by Phineas Fletcher, an excellent divine, and an excellent angler; and the author of excellent Piscatory Eclogues, in which you shall see the picture of this good man's mind : and I wish mine to be like it. No empty hopes, no courtly fears him fright; No begging wants his middle fortune bite : Is full of thousand sweets, and rich content; With coolest shade, till noon-tide's heat be spent. Or the vexatious world, or lost in slothful ease; While by his side his faithful spouse has place; The lively picture of his father's face. Less he could like, if less his God had lent him ; Gentlemen, these were a part of the thoughts that then possessed me. And I there made a conversion of a piece of an old catch, and added more to it, fitting them to be sung by us anglers. Come, Master, you can sing well : you must sing a part of it, as it is in this paper. Man's life is but vain; for 'tis subject to pain, And sorrow, and short as a bubble ; And care, and money, and trouble. Nor will we vex now though it rain; And angle, and angle again. Peter. Aye marry, Sir, this is music indeed; this has cheer'd my heart, and made me remember six verses in praise of musick, which I will speak to you instantly. Music! miraculous rhetorick, that speak'st sense I cannot hate thee, 'cause the Angels love thee. Whilst I listen to thy voice, Chloris ! I feel my heart decay ; That powerful voice Calls my fleeting soul away : Peace, Chloris ! peace, or singing die, To heaven may go ; For all we know PISCATOR. Well remembered, brother Peter; these verses came seasonably, and we thank you heartily. Come, we will all join together, my host and all, and sing my scholar's catch over again; and then each man drink the tother cup, and to bed ; and thank God we have a dry house over our heads. Piscator. Well, now, good-night to everybody. I. j [THE FIFTH DAY] ] PISCATOR. Good-morrow, brother Peter, and the like to you, honest Coridon. Come, my hostess says there is seven shillings to pay : let's each man drink a pot for his morning's draught, and lay down his two shillings, so that my hostess may not have occasion to repent herself of being so diligent, and using us so kindly. Peter. The motion is liked by everybody, and so, hostess, here's your money : we anglers are all beholding to you ; it will not be long ere l'll see you again ; and now, brother Piscator, I wish you, your scholar, a fair day and good fortune. Come, Coridon, this is our way. and my brother CHAPTER XVII Of Roach and Dace, and how to fish for them, and of Cadis a VENATOR. Good master, as we go now towards London, be still so courteous as to give me more instructions ; for I have several boxes in my memory, in which I will keep them all very safe, there shall not one of them be lost. Piscator. Well, scholar, that I will : and I will hide nothing from you that I can remember, and can think may help you forward towards a perfection in this art. And because we have so much time, and I have said so little of Roach and Dace, I will give you some directions concerning them. Some say the Roach is so called from rutilus, which they say signifies red fins. He is a fish of no great reputation for his dainty taste ; and his spawn is accounted much better than any other part of him. And you may take notice, that as the Carp is accounted the water-fox, for his cunning ; so the Roach is accounted the water-sheep, for his simplicity or foolishness. It is noted, that the Roach and Dace recover strength, and grow in season in a fortnight after spawning; the Barbel and Chub in a month ; the Trout in four months; and the Salmon in the like time, if he gets into the sea, and after into fresh water. Roaches be accounted much better in the river than in a pond, though ponds usually breed the biggest. But there is a kind of bastard small Roach, that breeds in ponds, with a very forked tail, and of a very small size ; which some say is bred by the Bream and right Roach ; and some ponds are stored with these beyond belief; and knowing-men, that know their difference, call them Ruds: they differ from the true Roach, as much as a Herring from a Pilchard. And these bastard breed of Roach are now scattered in many rivers : but I think not in the Thames, which I believe affords the largest and fattest in this nation, especially below London Bridge. The a |