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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 encouragement； that his fortune hath made him happy to
be 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
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met withal。
Piscator。 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。 Believe me； scholar；
this is my resolution； and so here's to you a hearty draught； and to all that
love us and the honest art of Angling。
Venator。 Trust me； good master； you shall not sow your seed in barren
ground； for I hope to return you an increase answerable to your hopes： but；
however； you shall find me obedient； and thankful； and serviceable to my
best ability。
Piscator。 'Tis enough； honest scholar！ come； let's to supper。 Come； my
friend Coridon； this Trout looks lovely； it was twenty…two inches when it
was taken； and the belly of it looked； some part of it； as yellow as a
marigold； and part of it as white as a lily； and yet； methinks； it looks better
in this good sauce。
Coridon。 Indeed； honest friend； it looks well； and tastes well： I thank
you for it； and so doth my friend Peter； or else he is to blame。
Peter。 Yes； and so I do； we all thank you： and； when we have supped； I
will get my friend Coridon to sing you a song for requital。
Coridon。 I will sing a song； if anybody will sing another； else； to be
plain with you； I will sing none。 I am none of those that sing for meat； but
for company： I say；
'〃Tis merry in hall； When men sing all。〃
Piscator。 I'll promise you I'll sing a song that was lately made； at my
request； by Mr。 William Basse； one that hath made the choice songs of the
〃 Hunter in his Career；〃 and of 〃 Tom of Bedlam；〃 and many others of note；
and this； that I will sing； is in praise of Angling。
Coridon。 And then mine shall be the praise of a Countryman's life。
What will the rest sing of？
Peter。 I will promise you； I will sing another song in praise of Angling
to…morrow night； for we will not part till then； but fish to…morrow； and sup
together： and the next day every man leave fishing； and fall to his
business。
Venator。 Tis a match； and I will provide you a song or a catch against
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then； too； which shall give some addition of mirth to the company； for we
will be civil and as merry as beggars。
Piscator。 Tis a match； my masters。 Let's e en say grace； and turn to the
fire； drink the other cup to whet 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。
Peter。 It is a match。 Look； the shortest cut falls to Coridon。
Coridon。 Well； then； I will begin； for I hate contention
Coridon's song。
Oh the sweet contentment The countryman doth find！ Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； Heigh trolollie lee。 That quiet contemplation Possesseth all my
mind： Then care away And wend along with me。
For Courts are full of flattery； As hath too oft been tried Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； etc。； The city full of wantonness； And both are full of pride：
Then care away； etc。
But oh； the honest countryman Speaks truly from his heart Heigh
trolollie lollie foe； etc。 His pride is in his tillage； His horses； and his cart：
Then care away； etc。
Our cloathing is good sheep…skins Grey russet for our wives Heigh
trolollie lollie loe； etc。 'Tis warmth and not gay cloathing That doth
prolong our lives： Then care away； etc。
The ploughman； tho' he labour hard； Yet on the holy…day Heigh
trolollie lollie foe； etc。 No emperor so merrily Does pass his time away：
Then care away； etc。
To recompense our tillage； The heavens afford us showers Heigh
trolollie lollie foe； etc。 And for our sweet refreshment。 The earth affords us
bowers： Then care away； etc。
The cuckow and the nightingale Full merrily do sing； Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； etc。 And with their pleasant roundelays Bid welcome to the
spring： Then care away； etc。
This is not half the happiness The countryman enjoys Heigh trolollie
lollie foe； etc。； Though others think they have as much； Yet he that says so
lies： Then come away； Turn countrymen with me。
Jo。 Chalkhill。；
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Piscator。 Well sung； Coridon； this song was sung with mettle； and it
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 make
yourselves merrier for a little than a great deal of money； for 〃'Tis the
company and not the charge that 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 so well liked。
The Angler's song。
As inward love breeds outward talk The hound some praise； and some
the hawk Some； better pleas'd with private sport Use tennis； some a
mistress court： But these delights I neither wish Nor envy； while I freely
fish。
Who hunts； doth oft in danger ride； Who hawks； lures oft both far and
wide Who uses games shall often prove A loser； but who falls in love； Is
fetter'd in fond Cupid's snare： My angle breeds me no such care。
Of recreation there is none So free as fishing is alone； All other
pastimes do no less Than mind and body b