SH

439

B97

1887

MAIN

K OF THE , J

p University of California. ^

GIFT OF

GEORGE MOREY RICHARDSON.

Received, August, i8g8.
B zAccessionNo.73 (d^Cd Class No. ^- f

^ ^ -4M

^^^i^ra^^:^!Sr^J&f^:^S2^S^SI^r:^..^£^:;S^S;^

THE

[Price One Sf^^Hing.

NCOMPLEAT
A^MGLER. ^

^ OP Tm'

After
Master

IZAAK

WALTON

EDITED BY

F. C. BURNAND,

duthor Kjf ''Happy Thoughts;^
AND ILLUSTRATED BY

Harry FURNISS.

LONDON :

BROOKE'S

"2dn WONT WASH CLOTHES!

\ Small Bar.- ^olisbes & ^lis^ttns like gl.igic

MONKEY
BRAND.

THE LANCET

says —

*' It answers ad-
mirably."

Endorsed by
100 LEADING
NEWSPAPERS.

4d.

A Large Bar.

TIN LIKE SILVER

PAINT LIKE NEW

CROCKERY LIKE
MARBLE

COPPER LIKE
GOLD

BRASS LIKE
MIRRORS

WINDOWS LIKE
CRYSTAL

CLEAN,
RAPID,
SIMPLE,
CHEAP,
BRILLIANT.

^OH ALL

*' Such Brookes are welcome to me." — {Merry Wives.)

Saves Labour and prolongs Life!
Will do a day's work in an hour.
Cleans everything made of Metal.
Cleans everything made of Marble.
Cleans everything made of Glass.

.Sold by Grocers, Ironmongers, and General Dealers throughout the Cotintry. If not
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F. C. BURNAND's

INCOMPLEAT ANGLER

Aft

er

Master IZAAK WALTON,

THE

INCOMPLEAT
ANGLER.

After Master IZAAK WALTON,

EDITED BY

F. C. BURNAND,

Juthor of " Happy Thoughts,'' Cifc.

.AND

ILLUSTRATED BY

Harry FURNISS.

LONDON:
BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., 8, 9, ic, BOUVERIE ST.

1887.

CONTENTS &" ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHAPrER I.

PAGE

A Conference between an Angler, a Hwiter, and

a Hawker, — What came of it , . . i

CHAPrER IL

How they settled Terms and went to catch a Chub i 3

CHAPTER HL

How the Master, without any cruelty^ invented a

new kind of Bait . . . . . 26

CHAPTER IV.

How the Scholar caught a Pike . . -37

CHAPTER V,

Piscator and Venator fall in with two Milk-
maidens . . . . . . . 40

CHAPTER VL
At the Inn 62

Contents and Illustrations. ix

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE

Still at the Inn . . . . . -72

CHAPTER THE LAST

Piscator, Venator, Maudlin, Grajidmother,

Shepherd . . . . . . 8i

a

((

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Piscator. '* Well met, Brother Peter '' . Frontispiece
JValton-on-t he-Naze and Walton-on-the Thames Preface

On the Road to Ware ..... i

Marry ^ I had a Sister in a Circle " • • 3

' He ads ^ for 'tis ' Tails,' and you have lost " . 7

Soda-was ser Kuren . . . . . . 13

"• Master ! I am in the ho , , , , 0 ! 0 ! '' . 23

Tailpiece . . . . . . . 25

Headpiece ....... 26

Vignette . . . . . . . 28

" 29

Tour de Nail . . . . . • • 35

^3f

Contents and Illustrations.

^">*">^-N^->^->^-<

^-"N^->*

PAGE

Ingenious Method ....

•

.

37

" Keepi?2g his hand in''

•

•

41

The Venerable Bishop Stortford

•

•

46

A Milkmaid and a little pail !

.

.

47

" Maudlin "

•

•

49

De Barnacles ....

.

.

53

" Good-morrffw to you, Ladies / "

.

.

55

Chorus of Milkmaids

•

•

58

" Well sung, sweet Maudlin "

•

•

59

'' Fork's the word''

.

.

61

" We won't go home till 7norning "

•

•

65

Vignette . . . ".

•

•

68

The mourning after

•

•

73

" They are pursuing me I ... 0 ! 0 !

Master .

/ "

80

Getting his *' Coo de grass "

•

•

83

The Angler s Dream

85.

86,

.87

The Milkmaids Song

•

•

93

Tailpiece .....

.

.

94

THE

Intompleat M.n^itv,

CHAPTER L

A Confere?ice between an Angler^ a Hunter^
and a Hawker. — What catne of it.

On the road to Ware,

€fje jFirst Sag.

Piscator. Venator.
Auceps.

^^tjScator^ You

are well overtaken,

Genthfnen !

2 "The Incompleat Angler.

Gentlemen ! A good morning to
you both ! I hope your business
may occasion you towards Ware^
whither I am going this fine May
morning.

Introduction, ^UCCp$^ My ware is the occa-

sion of my business. I am a
Hawker. You may know that from
my pack.

"Fenator^ And I, Sir, am a

simple Hunter^ though you could

not come at that knowledge, seeing
me without my pack.

39ljScatOl% I am right glad to
hear your answers. I am. Sir, a
Brother of the Angle,

^UCep$. Marry, I had a Sister in
a Circle. She is now a Columbine.

^3t.ScatOt% Nay, you mistake my

meaning.

l^he Incompleat <iAngler.

meaning. I am an honest fisher-
man, and I purpose taking my
morning cup at the " Welsh Harp''

**Marry, I had a Sister in a Circle."

ITenator^ Sir, I shall by your
favour bear you company, for, in
sooth, I do begin to mistrust the
coming of a fox in my way, this

May

4

I'he Incompleat <tAngler.

May morning ; and, indeed, my
Explanation. horse and I having parted at the
last privet hedge, he preferring to
remain on one side while I came
over on to the other, I doubt
whether I shall come up with the
hounds, which, if I am rightly in-
formed, are appointed to meet some
miles hence.

^Sl.ScatOr. Here is the ''Bald-
faced Stag'' Let us turn into it,
and refresh ourselves with a cup of
drink, and a rest.

Seated in ^IU^P$> Most gladly. Sir. This

anhostelrie, j^ ^.^^^ excellent ale.

^3i]ScatOl% I exchange courtesies

with you both. A small glass of

A similitude, Geneva thrown into it, thus, leavens

the whole, like a spice of Calvinism

in the Thirty-Nine Articles.

T'he Incompleat Angler. 5

^UCepS»> Ay, and assists to
settle it : like an arbitration.

^enator^ Sirs, your discourse
charms me to an attention.

^3i$cator^ Why then, Sir, I will
take a little liberty to propose to you
that one should be at charges for the
other.

ITenator^ Nay, Sir

^^ISiCator^ I accept your cour-
tesy. Hostess^ take my young friend
Master Venator s proffered coin.

^UCep$> Prithee stay your hand The toss,
an instant. I will try chances with
you, good Sir, to discover which of
us two shall discharge the score of "the coin tossed.
the three.

I^enator. Nay, Sir, I cry you
mercy

^ucepis.

6 I'he Incompleat Angler.

Coin lost, ^\\tt)^$^ Marry, you should have

cried ''Heads]' for 'tis ''Tails]' and
you have lost.

rhey quit ^^IjSCator^ I am glad we are on

the hostdrie. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ S^^n

come to where the river will stop
our morning's walk.

'17fnatOl\ O me ! I have lost
my cigar-case.

^UCCP$^ Nay, Sir, never look so
downcast at this ill-stroke. I have
in my pack two bundles of cigars
from the Havannahs^ all excellent
good, which I am minded to let
you have a rare bargain. See how
browm and glossy is their appear-
ance ; tied about, too, with a yellow
A bargain. fillet. Marry there be those of high

degree who should not deal with me

at

i g ?

T^he Incompleat <Angler.

^^enator stands
tloof.

at one shilling a-piece. But, since
your presence and fair conversation
like me, you shall have them for
sixpence each, and I protest this is,
as it were, to bestow them with an
open hand. Do you smoke, Mr.
Piscator f

^ll^tator^ I do. Sir, in good
truth. Indeed I have a sufficiency
of the herb, in my pouch, for my
own wants. Were I not thus
furnished, I would — while our very
young friend Venator is counting his
money, apart and out of hearing —
I would, I say, take a liberty to
inquire three things of you. Firstly,
Of what colour is the grass ?
Secondly, Do you notice a reflection
of that colour in either of my eyes ?
And, thirdly, Are you, as a sports-
man.

1 be Incompleat zAngler.

man, sufficiently skilled in the art of
approaching a weasel with so great
caution that he shall not be disturbed
by your footsteps, and therewith pro-
ceeding so skilfully to shave off his
eyebrows, that the creature shall not
discover your trick until he be
awoke ?

^\\tt)^$^ Marry, Sir, I think I do
perceive your meaning. Silence is
silvern ?

^^ISiCator^ Ay, now. Sir, you
talk like an artist. Nay, I am not
to be put off with less than seven, silence is
and those, mark you, good. purchased,

^llC^p$^ Give me your hand.
There, Sir.

"Fenator^ Honest Auceps, here
are two pounds ten for one bundle.

^\\tt]^$^ It is a match. Sir.

Marry

lO

I'he Incompleat Angler,

Auceps
departs.

Piscator and
Venator together

Teaming for
knozv ledge.

Marry here is one that strikes only
on its own box. And now, Gentle-
me?2,^ I must part with you at this
park-wall, for which I am very sorry.
But, I assure you, Mr. Piscator^ that
however fishy I may have hitherto
considered your general conduct, yet
I shall part with you full of good
thoughts, not only of yourself, but
your recreation. Heaven keep you
both.

^t^caton Farewell. Now honest
Auceps is gone, Mr, Venator^ I will
tell you all I know about angling.

"F'^natOlV Sir, my patience and
diligence shall not be wanting. But
I would first ask you if you can teach
me how to jerk a coin in the air
so it fall this or that side uppermost,
as you shall list.

The Incompleat Angler.

II

i3t]SCatOt% O, Sir, doubt not, 'tis
an art, whereof honest Auceps is a
master. Favour me with half-a-
crown, and I will show you how
the feat may be suitably accomplished.
Nay, this is an indifferent piece.

"FenatOtV Marry, Sir, it was one A doubt

1 , 1 insinuated.

given me in change by honest
Auceps, But here is another.

^I$cat0t% You shall put my
skill to the trial when we have
breakfasted.

19'enator> I would I had break- Regrets.
fasted ere I had attempted that cup
of ale and these cigars.

^^ijlcator^ Nay, Sir, you look
pale. Here is the " Welsh Harp""
Hostess^ how do you ? I will myself
see this poor young gentleman safely

bestowed

Welcomed at
the Welsh Harp

The Incompleat <Angler.

bestowed in bed. Now, Hostess^ a
cup of your best, and breakfast at
once.

|^0$tCSf$> I will do it, Mr.
Piscator, and with all the speed I
can.

CHAPTER

I'he Incompleat ^Angler.

CHAPTER II.

How they settled Terms and went
to catch a Chub.

Venator. Piscator.

1>^eiTatOt. M y
^^f friend, you have
'^^ kept time with my Headsplitteren.

Soda-ivasser Kuren. tnOUglltS.

^SiSlcator* I am right glad to
see you so fairly risen. I heard our

hostess f^^^

\ o c-

14 T'he Incompleat Angler.

Soda-wasser hostess herself bringing the soda-
Kuren, water to the chamber where you

lay. You do not eat of this lovely
trout.

"iTenaton I cannot. But I will

NarraturdeTea beg a courtesy of you, that you will

give me another cup of your hottest.

^3t$catOt% 'Tis said by Travellers

that the boughs of the trees in

China are all laden with Tea-leaves^

overhanging the hot water streams

Travellerf into which they fall, while the cows

^^^^^' and the cocoa-nuts afford a sufficient

quantity of milk, and the stones of

the sugar-plums serve for lump.

l:9*£nator> I could listen to your

discourse for hours together. But,

Fair proposal. Sir, let US be stirring. You shall

bear my charges for this past night,

and I will bear yours to-morrow.

^3i5cator.

The Incompleat ^4ngler. 15

^3l$catOt% Nay, we will settle Anight
the score between us, first, for last ^ ^^''<?^ ^ ^^^ •
night's diversion. This paper is in
your hand, is it not ?

"Fenator^ Marry, Sir, I must
acknowledge my own subscription.

^3t$CatOt% Why, then. Sir, you Indebtedness.
stand indebted to me in three
pounds and six shillings, that you
lost to me at our Angler's Game of
Blind Hookey^ which I learnt from
an ingenious gentleman in Cardigan-
shire.

ITfiraton A JFelshman, Sir?

i3t$CatOr> A Welsher. I thank Venator pays.

you ; that is the amount exact to a
penny piece. Now, do you discharge
our hostess, and let us forth. I longr
to be doing.

T'he Incompleat <Angler.

l^'enaton O, me ! It is fortunate
I brought my cheque-book with me.
But, before we proceed farther, let
me beg a courtesy of you : but it
must not be denied me.

^^l]SCatOt% What is it, I pray,
Sir ? You are so modest, so accom-
plished, so gentle, and so simple, that
I may promise to grant it before it
is asked.

ITcnator. Ay, Sir, but after?

^3tjSCatOl% Well, Sir, by that
time I shall be able to judge of the
request itself, when perhaps my licence
might be revoked on the merits. But
what is it ?

IJenatOlV Why, Sir, it is that,
henceforth, you would allow me to
call you Master^ and that I may be
your Scholar.

^3i5cator>

1 rjc incompieai z/ingLer. 17

^3l$catOt\ Give me your hand.
I will be the Master^ because I have
the rod.

'Uenaton And shall I have it An obtuse

too ? ^''^^'''

^3l$CatOl% You shall. I will M acute

teach you as much of this art as I ^^^^''
am able. Nay, more ; and will, as
you desire me, tell you somewhat of
the nature of most of the hsh that
we are to angle for. I am sure I
both can, and will, tell you more
than any common Angler^ being, as
you w^ill find me, a good fellow-
traveller, full of w^tty conceits,
tuneful songs, and honest mirth ;
such a companion, indeed, as must
have his charges borne by his friend
and scholar. But come, let us go They start.
and catch a Chub.

T'he Incompleat zAngler.

Iv^cnator^ Master^ where will you

commence to hsh ?

^^t$catOt% In the river. Now I
will give you some rules how to
catch a Chub.

Iv'enaton Is not a Chub to be
caught

^3l!SCatOt% In a lock ! I thought
you would say that. It is an old
conceit, as are all the known jokes
about soles, plaice, yoh?i Dory^ yack^
Pike^ and minnow others — I mean
many others — with which, I doubt
not, you are well acquainted. To
repeat any of these should be punish-
able by the rod.

^Cnator^ Master^ I will not
offend again.

^3l]ScatOt% Let there be a season-
able time for our jests, when, after

the

or

Chub -fishing.

1 be Incompleat ^Angler. 19

the labour of the day, we meet at
Ttttlebait Toicer^ where I hope to
bring you in the evening. As to
the Chub which we are now^ to
catch, note that, as you catch a Rules fc
Chub to dress him afterwards, so you
must first dress yourself to catch a
Chub, You must, then, be attired
in a sad-coloured suit, with a hat,
shoes, and veil of the same hue, for
a Chub is the fearfullest of fishes.

19'enatOtV O Master^ I begin to
be afraid he will bite.

^^l^cator^ Marry, I hope he
will. But take heart, for he w^ill
bite the grasshopper that you shall
presently put on vour hook, and so
be taken.

l^enator^ O Master^ you have
ofTered me as fair as I could wish.

I

C 2

"The Incompleat <Angler.

I am to be daunted by no Chub
that swims, nor grasshopper neither,
for that matter.

^3l]SCatOt% Go your way, and put
a grasshopper on your hook.

19't«atOt% O Master / O ! O ! O !
The grasshopper has stung me, and
the hook has pierced my forefinger.

^3t$catOt\ Marry, and I am glad
of it : I am like to have a towardly
Scholar of you. I now see, that,
with advice and practice, you will
make an angler in a short time.
Have but a love to it ; and I'll
warrant you.

17tnator> But, Master, if I can-
not rid my finger of the hook ?

^3t.5catm% Then, I may tell you,
that my pocket-knife will soon rid

the

The Incompleat Angler. 21

the hook of your hnger. Take heed
lest you bend, blunt, or damage the
hook, which I could not replace for
twenty pounds.

I^enat0t% Nay, Master^ I am free '' For this relief

. , . 1 J much thanks y

now, but the grasshopper has escaped
me.

^3t$cator^ Then take a beetle.

or a

bob-

^enator> I have one in my
purse with a hole in it.

^3l$cator. Rest you merry.

Scholar ; a " bob " is a youthful
beetle. Take him, and make in him
certain cunning slits, through which "i^he -jjrig^
you may, with ease, pass the hook,
whereon he will wriggle and twist in
lively and right merry sort.

"Ftnator^ See, Master^ 'tis as

you

ler

aw

9.9.

T'he Incompleat <Angler.

you say. But doth this not cause
the beetle some pain ?

Moral teaching. ^3f]ScatOt% Nay, Scholar^ few
pleasures are so perfect as to be
entirely free of inconvenience, yet
these contortions are probably the
honest creature's best mode of ex-
pressing his extreme gratification and
supreme enjoyment of the dignity
thus thrust upon him above his
A right fellows, as having been selected to

"^^l^^^^ share with Ma7i the gentle science of

A7lgli72g.

'iTtnatOt\ I thank you, good
Master^ for this observ^ation. And
though I be so far furnished for the
Great-fool sport, yet do I lack that dressing

without which 'twere vain to attempt
the capture of a Chiib^ and whereof
you spake a while ago.

scholar.

Master! 1 am in the ho .

O! OI'

OF THF

24 "The Incompleat zAngler.

^3l.iScatOt\ You shall lack nothing.
Take my rod ; put another grass-
hopper or beetle on your hook : and
for your disguise, I will provide you,
from my own bag, with a long grey
robe, green spectacles, with a hne
Kcw features, false nose and moustache all in one,
and such a wig as shall insure you
against detection, even by the most
Tutor and his wary and experienced Chub in this
'^^^''^^' river. Mv charge for these is but a

crown for the hrst hour, and three
shillings for the second.

VenatOtV Trust me. Master

93t$caton Nay, that I will not,
Master Scholar. So — these are two
good half-crowns.
Venator "Ftnatotv See, Master^ I have

got on my Chub-dressing.

^^t^catOt^ Then go your way.

Perch

disguised.

The Jncompleat Angler.

Perch yourself, secretly, on a bough,
above the same hole in which I
caught my Chub,

l^'enatOtV I'll go, my loving

Master^ and observe your direc- Venator dimls,
tions. ... O me ! O ! O ! O ! the
branch is snapping asunder, and I and
am just over the hole ! . . . O,
Master! I am in the ho . . . O ! O ! ^^^^-^ ^'^^^

the river.

-^

CHAPTER

26

'The Incompleat Angler.

CHAPTER in.

How the Master.) without any cruelty^
invented a new kind of Bait.

^

Cfjc ^amc Bag.

Saved.

Piscator. Venator.

^3i.ScatOt% So, Scholar^ you are

out of the water once more, and on
the dry bank. You must endure
worse luck sometime, or you will
never make a good angler.

19'cnatOt\ O Master^ I am wet
to the skin !

The Incompleat <Angler. 27

33i]Scatcm No further than that ? Ad-cke,
Go your way pleasantly, and sit in
the sunny meadow, and, while you
dry what is moist, I will moisten
what is dry.

^tW^X^X^ On my w^ord. Master^ Fiscator drinks
that is a gallant flask. '' ^'''''''

33i.SCatOt% It is ; and contains
choice entertainment. And you are
to note that it would be to your ad-
vantage were you to provide yourself
with one more capacious than you see
me carry. And you are to note also Various flasks.
that there are several kinds of flasks,
of which certain hold suflicient for the
refreshment of two, or three, anglers.
Furnish yourself with such a flask as
I have described, for this carries cheer
but for one alone.

I:7enat0r4 Truly, my loving

Master^

"The Incompleat Angler,

Not sparing
the rod.

Master^ I will observe your directions.
If I could take some comfort from
your flask now, I think it would save
me a chill.

^i;Scator* Nay, Master Scholar;

Venator
is benefited.

do you disport your-
self over the meadow,
and when you are
tired I will use my
rod so dexterously,
that you shall run
no risk from the

want of a quick circulation.

17tnatOt% O, Master! O! Marry,

I am w^arm throughout.

^llSiCatort I warrant you. But
look how it begins to rain. We will
leave our lines in the river, our rods
on the bank, and sit close under this

sycamore

ibe Incofnpleat <^ngler.

sycamore tree, where I design to eat Sandwich
the chicken sandwiches I have brought
in my basket. Does not it do your
heart good to see me enjoying this

29

man.

meat? And are not the place and
time well chosen to eat it ?

I^CltatOlV All excellent good, and Fasting man,
my appetite excellent good too. So,
Master^ let me fall to. You do not
deny me ?

^3l.StatOt% Nay, indeed, I do not
deny you, but it is a Christian _

principle

l^he Incompleat <Angler.

principle that you should deny your-
self. And note, that it is my own
forethought and prudence that have
armed me with this sandwich, for no
angler should come out unprovided.

'l^'cnator^ That will I not again.

But now

A lesson. ^3lSkCatOt% It is a beautiful sand-
wich, made from what epicures term
the oysters of the plumpest fowls.
You will find it mentioned in the
reckoning which you discharged with
mine Hostess ere we left this morning.
So, it is finished. Now, while I
smoke my pipe of tobacco, I will
proceed to my promised directions as
to baiting and angling. First, then,
as to baiting a hook

Uenator^ Master^ is that another
thing from baiting a bull ?

1 be Incompleat ^Angler. 3

i3l$catOt% It is as different from
it as would be baiting with a worm,
and, what a H.iber?iia7i gentleman
would term, bating with a stout Illustration
oaken cudgel — as you shall soon '^^^^
perceive.

^''enator^ Nay, good Master, bear Bribery,
with me, and I will undertake your
charges at the next I?i7i we come
to ; and, indeed, I would that this
rain were finished so that we mi^ht
be there now.

^3t$catOt% Stay a little, and I A piscatorial
will tell you somewhat about angling.
And, first, as to the Perch. The
length of the Perch is five and a
half yards, as you may see by your
tables. The best time for fishing for
Perch is by moonlight. Ere I pro-
ceed further, I must tell you that

for

kctu

3- The hicompleat ^Angler.

H:n:rarium for iiiv discourse Oil Pe?xh hshiiig

for Lecturer. ' . ..... . .

mv charge is ten shillings, whether it
lasts ten minutes, or as manv hours.

ITtXlKXoV. I fear me I lost my
purse in the water.

^3 locator. Xo ; I have it here in

mv pocket, where I bestowed it for

safetv, when vou were disguising vour-

A simple Self in order to catch the Chub, I

arranzemrnt. -n i \ r i j

^ Will take, therefore, the sum due on

each discourse as I proceed. Now
for the manner of dealing with live |
bait. Catch me that choice beetle.

'F'cnaton That black one with

large claws, red feelers like those of

The Scholar a shrimp, and a sharp-pointed tail in

and the beetle, i • i i • t i i • i

which there is, 1 am told, a stmg !
O, Master^ I am afraid. O, he is
biting me ! O !
Philosophically ^Si$catCil% You probably imagine

a

The Incompleat zAngler. 33

a pain which, I confess, I mysell: do bearing others'

not feel. Now nip his head partly

off, and pull off one of his legs :

now take your sharp knife, and

betwixt the neck, and the first joint

of his tail, make an incision, or such

a scar as you may put the wire of

your hook into it.

19'eiTatOl% O, Master^ the knife
has entered my finger ! O ! O !

^3i.ScatOl% There are few plea- Consolation.
sures without some alloy. But you
cannot possibly feel any hurt, as
the learned Sir Thomas de Bedlam
has shown that the sensation produced
by running a knife into a finger,
cannot cause any pain to the person
who so uses the knife.

^^£natOt% But, good Master^ it is
my own finger.

34 T'he Incompleat Angler.

Waltonian ^Il$cat0r^ That is a detail which

^^'^^'^P ^' the learned Bethlehe^nite has not

thought it worth his while to con-
sider. Now draw the wire through
the insect's body, and bring it up
again through the third joint of his
tail.

l^tW^XOX^ He is stinging my
hand with his tail ! See — O — Master
— see how my wrist is swollen.

^3 i$ca ton This beetle has no
sting in his tail. Now pass this hne
needle and silk through the upper
part of his hind leg, and sew it ta
the arming wire of the hook ; and in
so doing use him as though you
loved him — that is, harm him as little
as possible, that he may live the
longer, and afford you the more
sport.

l^he Incomp/eat ^Angler.

1:TenatOt% O, Master, I have sewn
the beetle to my finger, and I cannot
rid me of him.

03

Tour de ^'ail.

^SljSCator^ I can do so with my A true Angler
sharp knife. Yet as I would not ^'^'^'' ^^'^'^^'•
perform such an operation hastily,

and

D 2

36 "The Incompleat Angler.

and as an honest angler, however
experienced, should be alway ready
to learn something new, do you go
down to the river, and hold your

Si hcte, hand, thus baited, in the water.

River bait, Xhen we shall see if one of the more
voracious sort bite at the morsel.
Should he fulfil my expectation, you
will at once be able to secure him
without rod, line, or landing-net.

En route! Come, we will make the experiment.

To the river.

CHAPTER

I'he Incompleat <Angler.

37

CHAPTER IV.

How the Scholar caught a Pike.

Pi scat or. Venator.

locator. So we are

once more at the river.
Now thrust your hand
in, baited as it is with
the hook and the red beetle, which
you have so cunningly sewn to your

finger ;

Ingenio us method.

38 'The Incompleat Angler.

finger ; lie close, keep yourself out
of sight, and, surely, one of us will
have sport.

l^^ntator. O ! O ! Master, O !
I have disturbed a red ant-hill ! O !

^3l$catOt% Nay, no wonder, my
loving Scholar, since your crying is
enough to disturb whole villages.
I fear me you have not yet a spirit
suitable to anglers. How sung the
pious Sir Tho7nas de Bedlam F

Rare eld Though Wasps may sting me through my hose,

ballade. _, , . i -n i i •

Though Ants and Beetles bite my toes,

Though swarming Bees hang from my nose,

Tet would I

^iet lie

Though Snakes should bite and Leeches suck.

Though Stags should jump at me and buck.

Though

l^he Incompleat Jingler. 39

Though me in air fierce Bulls should chuck,
Tet would I

^iet lie

I^enat0t% I thank you, kind
Master^ for the sweet verses of the
good Sir T}i07nas^ and I do perceive
that he did not introduce the " quiet
lie " into his song without intention.

^^i^caton True. But I pray Pleasant
you use this occasion, while you are
silently awaiting a hsh, to remember
some catch, for to-night I will take
you to the " Fisher s Folly ^' where my
Hostess expects my brother Peter^ a
good angler, and a cheerful com-
panion, who will bring a friend with
him. There we'll rejoice, tell tales,
or sing ballads, and pass away a little
time without offence.

prospects

40

"The Incompleat <Angler.

Happy state
of Venator.

Artfulness
in sport.

An interval
of two hours
is supposed
to elapse.

l^^enatOt^ A match, good Maste?^ ;
let's be going, for I am very hungry,
my clothes are still wet, the red ants
are wandering about me, and I would
fain move the bait and hook from
my finger.

^3l]SCatOt% Nay, stay a little, good
Scholar^ for I would make you an
artist. We shall have a bite presently.
So do you lie, prone, with your
hand in the river, as I bid you, while
I consult my book of conceits and
ballads, so that I may be even with
brother Peter and his companion
to-night.

'F^nator^ O, Sir, I see you have
finished your study. I have lain here
the while — these two hours — and not
seen a fish stir. Oh me ! O ! O !
Master ! A fish ! A fish ! O ! He

has

The Incompleat zAngler,

41

-^

has caught me!
O ! He is biting
my hand ! O

i^t!ScatOt% Ay,

f marry. Sir, you

may well be

proud of being

taken by

4 ''hand- sell!

"Keeping Jiis hand in.*'

He

42 'T'he Incompleat Angler.

A struggle. He is an overgrown Pike^ the biggest

that ever I saw.

Senator. O, Master ! O ! Will
he pull me in the water ? O !

Another lesson. ^^I$cat0t\ If he have firm hold

of you, and prove the stronger, 'tis
more than probable he will. And I
would have you to know that this
fish is the mighty Luce or Pike^ and
is commonly called the Tyrant of the
fresh water. So, do you keep a firm
hold of the tree, and with dexterous
jerk you may land this fresh-water
wolf, as he is called by some writers.

"Fenaton O, Master, he is biting
my arm ! O ! I feel as though
he were becoming heavier every
minute ! O !

^3f$catCit> He is only assisting at
his own capture, as the more of your

arm

The Incompleat Angler. 43

arm he contrives to lay hold ot with

his teeth, the firmer grasp will you

have of him when the moment lor

drawing him forth from his native

element arrives, and the surer will be

his taking. Nay, Scholar^ you cannot iValtonian

be in pain, for the beetle, as I have told ^PP^'^^'-^'^'^^'

you, suffers not in the least, either

when he conceitedly writhes on the

hook, or when he is taken by the hsh.

'59'enatOt\ But O, Master^ if he
remain as he now is, will not this
Pike that hath hold of me die ? O !

^itSiCatOt% I will tell you. Scholar^
that unless the hook be fast in his
very gorge, 'tis more than probable
he will live : and a little time, with
the help of the water, will rust the
hook, and so it will gently wear away.
And now, while he hath hold of you

thus

44 The Incofnpleat <Angler.

thus, I will sit down at ease, and tell
you something more about the Pike,
Facts. The learned Gosling observes, that a

maid in Tartary was swallowed whole
by a Pike^ and was never heard of
again. The poet Trombo7iius hath
sung of him —

Translated O'er dale and dyke,

from the Latin. O'er splint and spike,

Away ! away !
To catch the Pike !

The Pike, the Pike,

The fish I like.
Is worth a dozen cheven.

In sooth I mean.

He's worth thirteen.
But that would be uneven.

If upon a bank he lies

Sixty minutes, then he dies.

Mourn the Birds, and weeps the shrike.

All

me incompieaz ^^dngier. 45

All the Fishes go on strike

At the death of Old King Pike.

Also my friend, Mr. JVagstaff^ affirms Curious
that the gaiters ot two Polonia?t ^^'^^ ^^^^'
gentlemen, who disappeared about
the same time and place, were found
near a pond on a high road, where
formerly there used to be a well-
known pike, which had been known
to stop horses, cattle, carts, and
everything that came in its way.
The venerable Bishop Stortford relates Episcopal
how he used to catch these voracious
monsters, after dark, by fastening
himself to bladders and floating down
the stream with a reading-lamp fixed
to his girdle, and a spelling-book^^ in

* ^he --jenerable ecclesiastic here mentioned would
have taken a Spelling-Be e in hand had he lived
when this peculiar kind of Bee was in vogue.

his

T'he Incompleat <Angler.

his hand. Sometimes he carried
bottles of hay, and the flags of the
various countries, through which he

Tlie Venerable liishoj* Stortford.

The reward
of self-sacrifice.

floated. There are no pikes in Spain^
and the roads are in a very bad state.
IJfnator^ Would I were in
Spain ! Master ! O !

^SiSiCator> So! Take him in his

leap !

ine Incompleat Angler,

47

leap ! — You have him. I tell you,
Scholar^ fishing and catching are two
separate arts.

O me ! I

am con-
tent. Shall
we eat him.
Master P

A J£ ilk in a id and a little 2)ail !

iit0cator>

Nay, that

we will not. Honest brother Peter
3.nd his companion will bring a fine
salmon trout with them, so we shall

not

r/ie Pike

is captured.

48 The Incompleat ^Angler.

not want for fish. But see ! there

\\\

"They spy the meadow are two simple milkmaids

tending the sheep. We will speak
them so fairly, that they shall be glad
to give us a leg of young lamb in
exchange for our Pike, So do you
carry the fish, cans, nets, and tackle,
while I hold the rod, and will pre-
sently address these maidens.

UenatOtV O, Master, the more
buxom of the pair would be a fit
helpmate for an angler !

^isicator. Why so ?

Rod again 'YJZWAX^K, She is SO Chubby. O,

^'PP ^^ ' Master ! I will never again make so

sorry a jest ! O ! O ! O !

CHAPTER

^he Incompleat Angler.

\^

CHAPTER V.

Piscator and Venator fall in with
two Milk-maidens.

Venator.

Piscator.

Milk-woman.

Maud. Hostess.

O5 Master.) tell i:'hey disccurse

pleasantly.

Ma u d I i n

OF TRF

UNIVERSITY

"The Incompleat <i.4ngler.

me, as we walk along the meadows,
is it true that, while one is fishing,
the angler should never speak, and
scarcely even breathe ?

^9l$catOl% Marry, Scholar, he
should indeed be silent, and breathe
lightly. For, you must know, that a
proficient can catch as good a
fish as swims, with a fine line fi*om
one of the poets, if he be but
careful to let it fall with 'bated
breath.

'^^eitaton What books should a
fisherman read ?

^3l.ScatOl% I would recommend
for your study Bleak House, Dr.
Newman s Lectures 07t A7igle-can
Difficulties, The History of the Rod,
HooJis Remains, Hook's Archbishops of
Fishing-Can-terbury, The Gentle Life,

Line

T^he Incompleat Angler. 5^

]ui72e upon L,i?ie^ and many others of
a like nature.

If£nat0t% Truly, my loving
Master^ I could listen to vour learned
discourse tor ever. But resolve me duestiyn.
this, which I have heard proposed as
a difficultv to fishermen. When does
a Trout exhibit fatigue ?

^3l$caton Well, Scholar, I should
replv, when he sleeps.

1^*£lTatOt^ Nay, Master, were you
to make such an answer you would
err, for the right solution of my
question is to this effect, that a Trout
shows his fatigue "uoheji he stops to
take a fly, '-^ '-^ O, Master, O ! it rhe red
hurts ! ''''-''''''

^3i$catCit% Such is my intention,
and this use of the rod is to impress,
on your memory, the remark oi the

venerable

E 2

52

The Incompleat Angler,

They approach
the maidens.

Guttler quoted, venerable Alderman Guttler^ that '' he
who would play a fish must not play
the fool."

lTenatOl% I thank you, Master.
These words are worthy to keep a
room in every brain where, as the
Lawyers say, the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary. But I
think it is now milking time, and
yonder they be at it.

^3t$catOt% On my word, a hand-
some milk-maid that hath not yet
attained so much age and wisdom
as to know the distinction between a
pike and the leg of a harmless lamb.

"F^nator^ Ah, my kind Master^

how beneficent is Nature who has

made the lamb 'armless and not

leale^s ^"^ ^ ^-^ O Master O I ^"^ '-^ I
Smart retort. ICgiCSS. w, iviu^ier ^ \j . ±

will never offend again.

"The Incompleat ^Angler. 53

i^l^cator^ Exchange is no theft :
SO5 as we have no use for this pike, we
will persuade her to give flesh for the
flsh. She is indeed a blooming rose.

19'€natOt% This rose is near an
elder. Master ; for, look, she is in
company of an old maid.

^^tSJCator^ An old milk-maid,
but, as I think, her grandmother.
Yet, for all her age, I warrant her as
open to fair speaking, as is her comely-
daughter, or grand-daughter. And
for a little
confirm-
ation of v^Vv^S ^L^^^^yV i^'- .<,' C .7 rv

/^ VS^-r^^y^^y /D^ "'" Prom the folio

what I have 1^^^^^^"'^.^'^:^^ / ^^ ^5^^-

said, I shall
repeat the
lines of De
Barnacles : j,, Bamades,

Good

54

T'he Incompleat <tAngler.

A fair
encounter.

Flattery.

Net to be caught
by the Anglers.

Meet and
drink.

Good morrow to you. Ladies, I
have been a fishing, and am going to
my supper at the ''Fishers Folly ^
We have caught more fish than wc
need, and I will bestow this pike
on you and your sister, for I use
to sell none, if you w^ill do me a
courtesy.

i^infe-ilioman^ Marry! we, that
is n:e and my grand-daughter. Sir,
and no sister, will eat it cheerfully.
We both love anglers ; they be such
honest, civil, quiet men. And in the
meantime, as we be a bit thirsty-like,
what will your Ho?20U7^ give us to
drink ?

^3l5CatOl% What you will, if your
grand - daughter will sing us a
song.

iHtlfe^SuomaiU Come, Maudli?2,

smi

^i Good-morrow to you, Ladies

5^ T'he Incompleat ^Angler.

sing to the gentlemen with a merry
heart.

^taUlJ^ Nay, G?^a?jdmother^ never
call me '' Maudlin " before these
gentlemen.

Argument. iittllfe^fcoomam Marry ! young

Cortdon^ the Shepherd, calls you
so.

i^atltr. Nay. Your ''Maudlin ' \i2.^

nothing to do with a Corri^ or

a Don. You shall not call me
" Maudlinr

'"* Corri, a well-known singer of the -period. Don.
This is somewhat obscure. Several attempts have been
made to elucidate the text, but none are of sufficient
value to place before the reader. The most probable
suggestion is, that a break occurred here occasioned by
some amorous action on the part of one of the two
strangerSy which the maiden roughly repelled with the
pettish exclamation *' A- done ! " TVe give the proposed
emendation for what it is worth — or less. — [Ed.]

l^he Incompleat Angler. 5 7

itttlfe^iMOmam Well, if you will
not be so called by Coridon^ you
harkened to your Colin s voice, when
he played on his pipe, and called you

" Maudlin:'

^^^VCti^ You are wrong, Grand-
mother, Colin s called me Magdalen^
not Maudlin^ and brought me out
at the Olympic.^ But for his playing
on his pipe ! — I never yet saw him
with a pipe.

^3lSiCatOl% Save when he was puft- sing,
ing his Cavendish.^ But sing ! my
honest, innocent, pretty Maudlin^
sing !

*" ^his is J it may be fairly conjectured^ an allusion
to an old stage-flay called the New Magdalen, by one
Wilkie Collins, These antiquarian researches render
the editing of this work highly interesting.- — [Ed.]

f Reference^ probably^ to Miss Ada Cavendish, who
was the heroine of the above-mentioned piece. — [Ed.]

The

Maiden
Sing.

The Milk-maid ne'er is in the Dumps
While there is Water in the Pumps,
While she the Briny breezes sniffs
Seeing the Chalk of England's cliffs.

Merrily ho !

The Milk-maids go,
Singing their roundelav,

Milk below!

The Milk-maid has a smiling Face,
She walks the Town with matchless grace,
She carries Cans, and those who pass,
If Scotchmen, cry " The canny Lass! "

Merrily ho !

The Milk-maids go,
Singing their roundelay.

Milk below!

Of her pet Cow she sings in Praise
A song, ** The light of Udder days."
The Milking-maids know, far and wide.
The tune whereof the old Cow died.
Merrily ho !
The ^Iilk-maids go,
Singing their roundelay,
Milk below!

She loves the Sky and all that's Blue,
And to her Colin she'll be true.
O, if you'd lead a Happy life,
Go take a Milk-maid for your Wife.

Merrily ho I

The \iilk-maids go,
Singing their roundelay,

Milk below I

Ch ovus of 3J / 1 k m a i d s.

As sung at a Cafe o' Lay (or Caf Ch intanf,)

'T'he Incompleat ^Angler.

59

Singing.

I>^enat0t% Well sung, sweet

Maudlin.

^atttr^ Nay, Sir, you must pay F'ee for
me for my entertainment. And see.
Grandmother^ while you were sleeping,

//.^

ire?? sung, siccet Maudlin.''

and I was singing, the other honest Piscator
civil angler has run off with a lamb.

"Ftnator^ I will run after him. Happy thought.

^aUlr> Nay, that you shall not, ^^PP'^^^

while ^'^^^'"

6o

l^he Incompleat Angler.

''Fork's the
zvordr

while I and my Grandmother are here,
I give you warning.

I^tnator^ I intend to call upon
you again.

^tautr> Marry, that you shall,
with all my heart ; and though you
pay me a hve-pound note now, I will
still be your debtor with a hay-fork
when you come this way.

Uenaton Good night, good
night, Matidli?!. . . . O, Master !
let's lose no time — let's move towards
our lodging. Oh, I am sore all over.

^3t$Cat0r4 That's my good
Scholar. You will be a sure angler for
a lish before long, for you are always
catching it. But yonder comes mine
At theJiostelrie. Hostess to bid US to supper. How
now. Hostess ; has my brother Peter
come ?

He comes up
with Maste)

The Incompleat zAngler.

01

|^Ci$tC$$^ Yes, and a friend with Company
him. They long to see you and to
be at supper, for I would give them
nothing till vou came, and they be
very hungry.

I'orh's the icord.

CHAPTER

T'he Incompleat Angler.

CHAPTER FL

At the /,

nn.

Lcng Measure.

Cl)c 12 betting.

Piscator. Peter. Venator.
Hostess.

Coridon.

^3l.SCatOt% Well met, brother
Peter. I heard you and a friend
would lodge here to-night, and that
hath made me bring my friend to
lodge here too. My friend hath been
an angler but this day, and hath
caught a Chub nineteen feet eleven
inches and a half long.

^3ctet% Nay, honest Piscator^ why
not give him the other half inch ?

Make

The Incompleat Angler. 63

Make him tw^enty feet, and there an
end,

^^l.Scator^ Trust me, brother Value of truth.
Peter^ I would not depart from
the truth for so small a matter as one
half-inch. But come. Hostess^ give
us some of your best, for we have <j'he Scholar
met to be pleasant, and my honest ^^'^^^mg.
Scholar will pay you in good coin.

17enator> But, my loving

Master

li^tXtt^ Nay, we will all bear our
share.

©oriUom And the one that hath
the best song shall pay the
reckoning.

'^£natOt% A match ! a match ! The Scholar

r T 1 u ^ r ^ little '^ on."'

tor 1 know but one verse or a song,

and that I cannot sing. This is the ^0 Corid-on

best liquor that ever I tasted.

Coritrom

64

T'he Incompleat Angler.

Encouragement.

Scholar
indistinct.

Joviality.

Coridon a
trifle obscure.

CotnUom This is a choice dinner,
and rare wine.

^tSlcator^ Trust me, brother
Peter, I find my Scholar so suitable
to my own humour, which is to
be free and pleasant, and civilly
merry.

'l^'enatOtV Ay, my Mair — to be
silivy merry. This is most excellent
liquor.

^9tS?catOt\ Now we have supped
let's turn to the fire. Hostess^ the
cups and the pipes. So. Come on,
my masters. Who begins ? Let's
avoid contention.

CoriUon^ I will. I'll shing a

shong. Hate contem Hate con-

tcnshum.

©oritron'^ Sons^

The Incompleat <tAngler.
<Dortbon*0 ^on^.

Ho ! the Sweets
And the Treats

Of a Fisher's Hfe.
Hey, trollie, loUie,
Let us all be jolly.
All around the Holly,

Trollie, lollie, lo !

Chorus, please.

'^Trollie, lollic, loIKc,

Utt us all be follp,

^U rounlr t{)e fiolljj,

trollie, lolli'f, lo!

Second verse : —

Whitebait, Greenwich,
Ducks and Spinach,
Little Fishes
In their dishes.
Pickled Salmon,
Then the Lamb on

Table,

ine incompleat Angler. 67

Table, waiter!

Bring a 'tater!
Ho ! the Sweets and the Treats,
Swells and Ladies, take your seats.

^rollic, lollic,

.^11 rountr t6c SoIIij,
^rollie, lollic, lo!

And chor's p'ease —

W,t b3on't go Iiomc till fHorning,
ITill Sa5ligf}t tiotlj apprar.

^IL Hip, hip, hip. Hooray !

^3t0Caton Brother Peter, your
friend Coridon hath well sung, and I Coridon subsides
commend so great modesty in one so
young, in that he hath not waited to
receive our compliments, but hath
withdrawn himself underneath the
table.

Ifenator^

I'he Incompleat ^Angler.

'Fenaton I'll shing shong.

li,^v^/tHKtoR;s So>(9i

A cloudy Wind

And a southerly Sky,
Summon our Hunting forces,

Away ! away !

In a break of Day
In which we drive four Horses.

Chorus, Gentlemen :

Tallyho !

The Incompleat <Angler. 69

Tallyho ! whoop ! whoop ! tallyho !
Gone away ! Tallyho ! full cry !
And Huntsman and Whips with silver tips.
Sing, this day a Fox must die !
Tallyho! O! O!

Second verse : —

Tallyho ! Tallyho !

Yoicks ! to ''Ringleader! " yoicks away!

Whoop away !

I know Old Tom, and he knows me,

l/enator

And I know him wherever he be. wanders.

In the early Morn,

By the sound oi his Horn,

By the sound of his Horn, the Wind blowing
nor'ard.

Hey! Tallyho! yoicks! and Hi! For'ard ! Faltering.

I don't know more. Go bed.

^^l.SCator^ Brother Peter^ we
anglers are much beholden to these

two

JO

"The Incompleat Angler.

the party
breaks up.

Business,

Settling up.

Settling down.

two excellent singers. Come, Hostess^
another bowl, and let's drink to
them. Then to bed ; for I will
have nothing hinder me in the
morning. My purpose is to be away
by sunrise.

|i^O$t^$$> Then, my honest, merry
Gentlemen^ first pay your reckoning
overnight.

^tXtX^ Twas a match that the
best singer should be at charges for
the company. But your Scholar is as
good a singer as my friend ; therefore,
divide the score between them. For
safety I have Coridori's purse here,
and will discharge his share.

|^t0catOl% And here is my
Scholar s portion. Hostess^ let them
both be carried to bed. Good-night
to everybody.

^ine Incompleat <^ngler. 71

l^tXtt^ And so say I.

'^0$Xt^$^ And so say I. Voices of

the night,

CoriUon anlr Ifeitator. An'-sho-

sh'-all-of-ush.^

'"' The party retire all more or less the worse for
liquor. Of what beverage they had principally
partaken, is not absolutely clear. — [Ed.]

'The Incompleat zAngler.

CHAPTER VII.

Still at the Inn.

€|)e Next Bag.

Piscator. Venator. Hostess.

53jljS'catlOl% Good-morrow, good

Hostess, My brother Peter and his
friend are still in bed. Give me my
breakfast, and my Schola?^ a bottle of
soda water and a lemon.

ItT^itator. Ome! O Master I O
my head !

^^tgcator^ An excellent breakfast.
Good Hostess^ prithee go upstairs, and
knock at brother Peter s door, and
give him this note, and bring me the
answer down-stairs. So she is gone.
Now, Scholar^ we will not wait her
return, but be going.

^tnatot%

"The Incompleat <iAngler.

1^enator> But, my Master^ you
have not paid for your breakfast.
^t0Cattir> It is brother Peter s

11

"The
Reckoning.

The mo timing after.

birthday, and the reckoning will be
a little surprise for him when he
comes down. The learned Doctor

M. Bezzler has translated MartiaPs Stepping it,

epigram

74 T'he Incompleat <Angler.

epigram, ^^ Piscator^ f^^S^ - " ^hus :
" 0 A7igler ! hook it ! " So now
we are well on our way

J joke, l:7enatOt% Alas ! I am not well

on our way ! ... O, Master ! O !
No joke, O ! I will not offend again.

^3lSlcatOl% You are better now,
my loving Scholar ?

1^£natOl% I am, my kind Master,
And now, as we go towards the river,
will you tell me how to make such a
bait as shall catch a dace, or a roach ?

Frumissy. ^^t0CrltOt% Take a handful of sour

milk like as frumissy is boiled.

UcnatOtV Good Master^ what is
frumissy ?

^3lSJCatOt% Frumissy, Scholar^ the
learned B'dtteler explains, is ingeniously
derived from the Latin Fruor^ I enjoy,
and misi^ I have sent; and it is to be

understood

1 be Incompleat ^Angler.

/:>

understood that the scent is to be
enjoyed.

I^enator^ I thank you, good
Master. This truly is what I have
heard called in the same learned
language a funnimentufn, . . . O,
Master^ O !

^^IjScator^ Trust me, I will not
fail you on such occasion, for where
the rod hath been spared, child and
fish have been alike spoiled. Boil
this sour milk till it be hard ; then
fry it leisurely with gentles, sawdust,
bluebottles of not more than three
years of age, a handful of nettles,
which, as you must learn for yourself,
shall not have been before deprived
of their sting, and half a pound of
Cayenne pepper. Make this into a
paste, paint it with three coatings of

blue

Funster
'punished.

Valuable
Receipt.

-^^ or TUB '^ X

76 l^he Incompleat Angler.

blue colour, and you will find it a
tempting bait for a cock-roach, which
the pious Dutchman, Van Dunder-
bootzen^ affirms to be the choicest
fish that swims.

ITenaton I thank you, my
Master^ and shall be yet more be-
holden to you if you will tell me what
more you remember that is necessary
to the taking of the cock-roach.

^3l$catOt\ Well, Scholar, I will
stop here unless you satisfy my
charges up to this time, whereof I
will now give you the score.
Fee Simple. Ueitator^ Nay, Master, I have

but three sovereigns lelt ; but if you
will not again use the rod —

^^tjSCator^ That is what no true

angler can promise. So. They are

T:rying moment, good ones. I will now tell you what

remains

1 roe incompicai <t/irigier.

77

remains to be done when you have
provided yourself with such a bait as
I have already taught you to make.

Uenator^ Proceed, good Master^
to your promised direction. I will
not fail with my bait; and see, here
are the nettles at hand !

^li.Scator^ Pluck them gently, but
fearlessly, for they belong to no
owner, and are bounty of Providence.
The erudite Pliacetius has said that
they do not sting this month.

ITenatOr^ Do they not ? Why ISlettk rash.
then . . . O, Master^ O !

Pl]5Cator> You have indeed a
noble handful. And note, with
gratitude, that your suffering is the
cause of my happiness. For every Philosophy.
misery that I miss, is a new mercy,
and, therefore, as you should rejoice

with

PhacetiuSy
Vol. a.

78 "The Incompleat Angler.

with your friend, let us both be
thankful. So. Put them in your
pocket, and listen to what I have to
say as to your line of conduct in
fishing, and the use of hair, for my
instructions draw to a close.
Poverty's ^gnatOt\ And, O Master^ my

approach. ^^^^^ .^ ^^^jj ^^^ ^^^^^

^i$catOt\ True happiness is not

in riches. But for this line I was

Another speaking of. You must dye your

Receipt. j^^j^ ^^.^j^ ^ p-^^ ^1^ strong ale, a pound

of soot, a little quantity of the juice
of walnut-tree leaves, boiled in a
pipkin. Lay it on smoothly with
your brush, and drive it in thin. It
will turn your hair to a kind of
greenish yellow. Once doing will
serve if you lay it on well, for doubtless
such coloured hair is most choice,

and

T^he Incompleat ^4ngler. 79

and the most useful for an angler ;
but let it not be too o-reen. Now
we are at the river, go to that hollow
tree and throw your line.

ItftXiditOV^ It is a beautiful seat Up a tree.
in the hollow tree, and I have so
craftily disposed my legs in a cleft
of the trunk that I cannot be pulled
out by the strongest pike. O,
Master / . . . here is a w^asp ! . . .
O!

^3l]5Cator> Wasps build their nests
in hollow trees on the banks of a
stream."^ I will go on quickly to Flight.
the next meadow.

l^tXX^XoX^ O, Master / ... it is a
swarm ! . . . O ! I cannot get out

* ^his is a "valuable testimony to unchanged habits
of the "ivasp, The infor'mation contained in these pages
ijoill be found most useful to the naturalist. — [Ed.]

of

8o

T^he Incompleat <Angler.

of the tree ! O ! . . . O ! . . .

A come down, O ! . . . I am free ! . . . they are

Wasp! I 0!

*^ They are 'pursuing me! . . . O! O ! Master !"

pursuing me ! .
where are you ?

O ! O ! Master I

CHAPTER

± uc iriLurniJLtuL <^^/i^ier. ol

CHAPTER THE LAST.

Piscator. Venator. Maudlin. Shepherd.
Grandmother.

^3l$catCit\ And now, mv loving ^•'^'
Scholar^ as your purse hath come to
an end, so must also my discourse.
But before we part, I will remind
you of the four ways of fishing w^hich
the learned Jakkas hath pronounced
to be all most excellent ; namely, to
catch your fish by dabbling, dibbling,
dopping, or daping. For the first
two, the rule of silence must be
strictly observed, for the same erudite
writer hath said, —

When you Dabble
Do not Gabble.

And, also, —

When

aciium.

o2 The Incompleat ^Angler.

When you Dape
Never Gape.

So that to dabble should be an
evening's occupation, while the latter
should be undertaken in the morning.
As to the great virtue of dibbling, his
Muleius. contemporary, Mtdeius^ has left us this

sage advice, —

Fish will Nibble
When you Dibble,

If you angle in the Ribble.
After dining on a Chop
'Tis the time to go and Dop,

Dabble, Dibble, Dop, and Dape,
Using these
As you please.

Never will a Fish escape.

happy memories ItJtXiAX^K^ O, Master^ I COuld

listen to your discourse for hours, were
I not still suffering from the stings of

the

84 The Incompleat <Angler.

the wasps, the biting of the jack, my

fall into the river, the evening's

potations, which have induced me to

''Aches be somewhat feverish, and the hurt

and pains !^ . • 1 r \ 1

that 1 received rrom that red cow in
Maudlin s field, whither I strayed to
tell her of my affection for her and
her mother.

iit0CatOt% Nay, Scholar^ you will
soon be quit of these disorders, and
regard the time, so pleasantly spent in
my company, with a grateful and a
thankful heart. And, to this end, I
will repeat you a copy of verses which
Dr, Doobraivorus^ a worthy Bishop
in Belgravia, hath composed on
the happiness and contentment of
'' The Angler's an Angler s life. He has styled it,
as also shall I, seeing no reason for
differing from so good a man, —

The

rnt i\Hc,itK

=^^^:^^DyH>S SIDE. R,ECLmE^ A Ca\R

^^^£R£ S 5 U^JU lACJ

^/qS^^'HrE VER^r) DEE.pE3T BAS

^^. ~ X"H,ER.E THE REVf P."tK'0 MIS't^\:E»AR.e>^^- .'
^^,^ IN" -fk 'PULPIT r[KDE^ Of ^AKQlE^. C|

^=1__Skows HE cArf 9uorA.Tioi^s CAf^'ft'lE. .

m-'

r:

f^OW, A«-R<5SS THE nEAD.^THE ^/NKOW
^M/ L INC S\^n E-TLV . ^f^^ ^ ^ ^'^'^ >'^^Q
-CENT /^ MAIDEN ^5> yOU'O SEE. "

)rvJTKE. WTA^TERS C~THE

^^

SE

\

LETrHt ^i-^ OLD T/^oat'

The Angler's Dream.

AND )\\ SAyS.''nV LI'TT'iE ly'^^

^^/ ^,Or^ 4ou CAWNO-f PAS4

Police HAN"

_ 1:^^^^-^ 3flAV^ 6^gVA ^-^^^

:-^^^^f^J^^^^^^^-> QRV35 AK/D GE/^^TlS''^^
"^ I ~AVEL TA E) R, L^Kn L S, ^^

Quit trliR. Vi/.l>\^S», 2^

' ^^=^^^ A.ND ^MH QRUiiS^

T/ie Angler^ s Dream (continued).

^W£ r;\JS"r 5VFFEi\ • ThROuQK

Kis JAWa

^rVriTh THE ^KEGa^R.TEACw mn HoW.

.^ -TEfXCH KIM A,^ HE SHOUlA Ib^ ^>\vQHT-^^^ ^cl >rH^

' V V<>f^ ^^ CC VS I P ^-R S JS PORT - -^^ >CEj^>^^^^^^>^C/^;hj

S^s, ^^^'^ }OSSa^^

%,

T7/e Angler's Dream (coiitinued).

The Incompleat Angler.

yjtW^X^X^ My Master^ your song
was sung with mettle. And, my
Master^ the metal of which I have
observed those to be most possessed
who have the least voice is brass. O,
Master^ O ! I vow I will not offend
again. O, my loving Master^ I am so
stiff and sore I can scarcely move.

^3l.SCatOl% Farewell, Scholar, We
shall meet again when you have come
into that fortune which your grand-
father will leave you when he himself
shall have no further use for it. But
do not hanker after money, whether
it be a shilling, a sovereign, or a
crown.

Ifenaton I will not, my kind
Master ; and, though I should keep
an hostelrie, yet will I have the sign
painted as the '^ Hanker a?id the

Crown^^

1 ne incompLeai <tALngier. oy

Crown^' so that, even there, there
shall not be a '^ Hanker " after a
crown. ... O, Master ! O ! O !
Do not give me any more. I am Giving

content satisfaction.

^^tScaton And so am I. For

the great philosopher, Har?y Stottle^
has said, —

When more than enough you've got.
Contented be with your lot.

And I am of his mind.

"Fenaton Well, Master, I thank
you for all your good directions, for
I may truly say that I have only
begun to have a knowledge of life,
since I enjoyed your company and
conversation. And, indeed, I think I
shall now be able to become Master
to some Scholar less wise than myself,

on

l^he Incompleat <Angler.

on whom I can practise such arts as
you yourself have taught me.

^3i.ScatOl% Once more farewell,
Scholar, Be virtuous, and angle.
Note this, that there be as hne fish in
the rivers as have ever yet been drawn
therefrom. But now we are near
Shepherd' s Biish^ and I see a Shepherd
coming, in company with pretty
Maudli?! and her Grandinother^ to
whom I will leave you to make my
excuses, and explain that the lamb-
kin was honestly come by. Ay,
you cannot move so easily as I,
farewell.^

ittatlUIin. Here, at last, I have
one of these honest, merry, civil

■^ Here it is evidently implied that^ to use the quaint
old Saxon phrase, " The Angler hooketh it^' and so^ like
Marlbrook, '^ il ne reviendra pas."

anglers,

Ibe Incompleat <^ngler. . 91

anglers, who runs not so nimbly as Caught.
his friend.

honest Maudlin hath a notable
memory, and she thinks nothing can
be too bad for him, since they be
such rascally men.

'F'enator^ Pretty Maudlin^ I will
promise you before this honest
Shepherd of the bush

Si^epi^crU^ Nay, that am I not, Trapped.
but an ingenious Constable in plain
clothes. Come away with me.

l^ettatOtV O, Sir, I am right glad
to meet you.

Si[)epi)erU> Let us compliment no
longer, but be gone and make haste.

l^tnator^ I pray, honest Constable^
let me ask you a pleasant question.
What will you take ? Let's to a

cheerful

92 7/6^ Incompleat Angler.

cheerful alehouse, and all of us rejoice
together. Come, Matidli?! ! Come,
Gra?2dmother ! I'll bear your charges
to-night.

i^Tatllllim Marry, Sir, and bear
ours to-morrow before his Worship,

l^''enatOt^ Nay then, my pretty
Maudlin^ I will beg a courtesy of you,
and it must not be denied me.

iBaUtllim What is it, I pray.

Sir ?

Amor vincit. ItJtW^Xi^K^ Givc me vour hand.

So. I am myself caught at last in the

marriage-lines. You can begone,

honest Co?tstable^ for a wife is not

evidence against her husband on a

criminal charge ; or, if you will, take

Maudlin s Grandmother^ and w^e will

all go to a cheerful alehouse and

rejoice together.

The

^fmei.

Come live with me and be my

Spouse,
We'll keep a Cottage, Pigs, and

Cows ;
And I will dress in Lace and Silk,
While you shall Pig, and Dig, and

Milk.

There you will Work and Hoe all

day.
While I Enjoy myself, Away.
If this you'll do, we'll have no

Rows,
Come live with me and be my

Spouse !

«»!S^^v.,-

Th e Milk in aid *s JS o n g.

94

The Incompleat zAngler.

IT^nator* 'Tis a match.

The ivedding. j^fiaiHrIin'5 ©franUmotfjer* It is,

Come one, come all.

BLESS YE, MT CHILDREN!

V-.^/. 0^ ^<^\^ j'wC^'-'-^r^

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