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my scholar caught three。 Look！ here's eight； and a brace we gave away。
We have had a most pleasant day for fishing and talking； and are returned
home both weary and hungry； and now meat and rest will be pleasant。
Peter。 And Coridon and I have not had an unpleasant day： and yet I
have caught but five bouts； for； indeed； we went to a good honest ale…
house； and there we played at shovel…board half the day； all the time that it
rained we were there； and as merry as they that fished。 And I am glad we
are now with a dry house over our heads； for； hark ！ how it rains and
blows。 Come； hostess； give us more ale； and our supper with what haste
you may： and when we have supped； let us have your song； Piscator； and
the catch that your scholar promised us； or else； Coridon will be dogged。
Piscator。 Nay； I will not be worse than my word； you shall not want
my song； and I hope I shall be perfect in it
Venator。 And I hope the like for my catch； which I have ready too： and
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therefore let's go merrily to supper； and then have a gentle touch at singing
and drinking； but the last with moderation。
Coridon。 Come； now for your song； for we have fed heartily。 Come；
hostess； lay a few more sticks on the fire。 And now； sing when you will。
Piscator。 Well then； here s to you； Coridon； and now for my song。
O the gallant Fisher's life； It is the best of any； 'Tis full of pleasure；
void of strife； And 'tis beloved of many： Other joys Are but toys； Only this
Lawful is； For our skill Breeds no ill； But content and pleasure。
In a morning up we rise Ere Aurora's peeping； Drink a cup to wash our
eyes。 Leave the sluggard sleeping； Then we go To and fro； With our
knacks At our backs To such streams As the Thames If we have the
leisure。
When we please to walk abroad For our recreation； In the fields is our
abode； Full of delectation： Where in a brook With a hook Or a lake Fish
we take： There we sit For a bit； Till we fish entangle。
We have gentles in a horn； We have paste and worms too We can
watch both night and morn； Suffer rain and storms too； None do here Use
to swear； Oaths do fray Fish away； We sit still； And watch our quill
Fishers must not wrangle。
If the sun's excessive heat Make our bodies swelter； To an osier hedge
we get For a friendly shelter Where； in a dike； Perch or Pike Roach or
Dace We do chase Bleak or Gudgeon； Without grudging We are still
contented。
Or we sometimes pass an hour Under a green willow； That defends us
from a shower； Making earth our pillow； Where we may Think and pray
Before death Stops our breath。 Other joys Are but toys； And to be
lamented。
Jo。 Chalkhill。
Venator。 Well sung； master； this day s fortune and pleasure； and the
night's company and song； do all make me more and more in love with
angling。 Gentlemen； my master left me alone for an hour this day； and I
verily believe he retired himself from talking with me that he might be so
perfect in this song； was it not； master？
Piscator。 Yes indeed； for it is many years since I learned it； and having
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forgotten a part of it； I was forced to patch it up with the help of mine own
invention； who am not excellent at poetry； as my part of the song may
testify； but of that I will say no more； lest you should think I mean； by
discommending it； to beg your commendations of it。 And therefore；
without replications； let's hear your catch； scholar； which I hope will be a
good one； for you are both musical and have a good fancy to boot。
Venator。 Marry； and that you shall； and as freely as I would have my
honest master tell me some more secrets of fish and fishing； as we walk
and fish towards London to…morrow。 But； master； first let me tell you； that
very hour which you were absent from me； I sat down under a willow…tree
by the water…side； and considered what you had told me of the owner of
that pleasant meadow in which you then left me； that he had a plentiful
estate； and not a heart to think so ； that he had at this time many law…suits
depending； and that they both damped his mirth； and took up so much of
his time and thoughts； that he himself had not leisure to take the sweet
content that I； who pretended no title to them； took in his fields： for I could
there sit quietly； and looking on the water； see some fishes sport
themselves in the silver streams； others leaping at flies of several shapes
and colours； looking on the hills； I could behold them spotted with woods
and groves； looking down the meadows； could see； here a boy gathering
lilies and lady…smocks； and there a girl cropping culverkeys and cowslips；
all to make garlands suitable to this present month of May： these； and
many other field flowers； so perfumed the air； that I thought that very
meadow like that field in Sicily of which Diodorus speaks； where the
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
express it；
Hail ！ blest estate of lowliness； Happy enjoyments of such minds As；
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rich in self…contentedness； Can； like the reeds； in roughest winds； By
yielding make that blow but small 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 sh