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which indeed fits me best now； but two or three years ago； when the cares
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of the world began to take hold of me： but you shall； God willing； hear
them both； and sung as well as we can； for we both love anglers。 Come；
Maudlin； sing the first part to the gentlemen； with a merry heart； and I'll
sing the second when you have done。
The Milk…maid's song。
Come live with me； and be my love； And we will all the pleasures
prove； That valleys； groves； or hills； or fields； Or woods； and steepy
mountains yields；
Where we will sit upon the rocks； And see the shepherds feed our
flocks； By shallow rivers； to whose falls Melodious birds sing madrigals。
And I will make thee beds of roses； And； then； a thousand fragrant
posies； A cap of flowers； and a kirtle； Embroidered all with leaves of
myrtle；
A gown made of the finest wool Which from our pretty lambs we pull
Slippers； lin'd choicely for the cold； With buckles of the purest gold；
A belt of straw and ivy…buds； With coral clasps； and amber studs。 And
if these pleasures may thee move； Come； live with me； and be my love；
Thy silver dishes； for thy meat As precious as the Gods do eat Shall；
on an ivory table； be Prepared each day for thee and me。
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing For thy delight； each May
morning。 If these delights thy mind may move； Then live with me； and be
my love。
Venator。 Trust me； master； it is a choice song； and sweetly sung by
honest Maudlin。 I now see it was not without cause that our good queen
Elizabeth did so often wish herself a milk…maid all the month of May；
because they are not troubled with fears and cares； but sing sweetly all the
day； and sleep securely all the night： and without doubt； honest； innocent；
pretty Maudlin does so。 I'll bestow Sir Thomas Overbury's milk…maid's
wish upon her； 〃that she may die in the Spring； and； being dead； may have
good store of flowers stuck round about her winding… sheet 〃 。
The Milk…maid's mother's answer
If all the world and love were young And truth in every shepherd's
tongue； These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee； and be
thy love。
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But Time drives flocks from field to fold。 When rivers rage； and rocks
grow cold Then Philomel becometh dumb And age complains of cares to
come。
The flowers do fade； and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning
yields。 A honey tongue； a heart of gall； Is fancy's spring but sorrow's fall。
Thy gowns； thy shoes； thy beds of roses； Thy cap； thy kirtle； and thy
posies； Soon break； soon wither； soon forgotten； In folly rise。 in reason
rotten。
Thy belt of straw； and ivy buds； Thy coral clasps； and amber studs； All
these in me no means can move To come to thee； and be thy love。
What should we talk of dainties； then； Of better meat than's fit for
men ？ These are but vain： that's only good Which God hath blessed and
sent for food。
But could youth last； and love still breed； Had joys no date； nor age no
need； Then those delights my mind might move To live with thee； and be
thy love。
Mother。 Well！ I have done my song。 But stay； honest anglers； for I will
make Maudlin sing you one short song more。 Maudlin ！ sing that song that
you sung last night； when young Coridon the shepherd played so purely on
his oaten pipe to you and your cousin Betty。
Maudlin。 I will； mother。
I married a wife of late； The more's my unhappy fate： I married her for
love； As my fancy did me move； And not for a worldly estate：
But oh！ the green sickness Soon changed her likeness； And all her
beauty did fail。 But 'tis not so With those that go Thro'frost and s As As all
men know； And carry the milking…pail。
Piscator。 Well sung； good woman； I thank you。 I'll give you another
dish of fish one of these days； and then beg another song of you。 Come；
scholar ！ let Maudlin alone： do not you offer to spoil her voice。 Look ！
yonder comes mine hostess； to call us to supper。 How now！ is my brother
Peter come？
Hostess。 Yes； and a friend with him。 They are both glad to hear that
you are in these parts； and long to see you； and long to be at supper； for
they be very hungry。
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The third day … continued
On the Trout
Chapter V
Piscator； Peter； Venator； Coridon
Piscator。 Well met； brother Peter！ I heard you and a friend would
lodge here to…night； and that hath made me to bring my friend to lodge
here too。 My friend is one that would fain be a brother of the angle： he
hath been an angler but this day； and I have taught him how to catch a
Chub； by dapping with a grasshopper； and the Chub he caught was a lusty
one of nineteen inches long。 But pray； brother Peter； who is your
companion ？
Peter。 Brother Piscator； my friend is an honest countryman； and his
name is Coridon； and he is a downright witty companion； that met me here
purposely to be pleasant and eat a Trout； and I have not yet wetted my line
since we met together： but I hope to fit him with a Trout for his breakfast；
for I'll be early up。
Piscator。 Nay； brother； you shall not stay so long； for； look you！ here is
a Trout will fill six reasonable bellies。
Come； hostess； dress it presently； and get us what other meat the house
will afford； and give us some of your best barley…wine； the good liquor
that our honest forefathers did use to think of； the drink which preserved
their health； and made them live so long； and to do so many good deeds。
Peter。 On my word； this Trout is perfect in 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。