But I will not complement you out of the debt that I owe you, and therefore I will begin my Song, and wish it may be as well liked.
_As inward love breeds outward talk, The_ Hound _some praise, and some the_ Hawk, _Some better pleas'd with private sport, Use_ Tenis, _some a_ Mistris _court: But these delights I neither wish, Nor envy, while I freely fish.
Who_ hunts, _doth oft in danger ride Who_ hauks, _lures oft both far & wide; Who uses games, may often prove A loser; but who fals in love, Is fettered in fond_ Cupids _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 Then mind and body both possess; My hand alone my work can do, So I can fish and study too.
I care not, I, to fish in seas, Fresh rivers best my mind do please, Whose sweet calm course I contemplate; And seek in life to imitate; In civil bounds I fain would keep, And for my past offences weep.
And when the timerous_ Trout _I wait To take, and he devours my bait, How poor a thing sometimes I find Will captivate a greedy mind: And when none bite, I praise the wise, Whom vain alurements ne're surprise.
But yet though while I fish, I fast, I make good fortune my repast, And there unto my friend invite, In whom I more then that delight: Who is more welcome to my dish, Then to my Angle was my fish.
As well content no prize to take As use of taken prize to make; For so our Lord was pleased when He Fishers made Fishers of men; Where (which is in no other game) A man may fish and praise his name.
The first men that our Saviour dear Did chuse to wait upon him here, Blest Fishers were; and fish the last Food was, that he on earth did taste. I therefore strive to follow those, Whom he to follow him hath chose. W.B.
_Cor_. Well sung brother, you have paid your debt in good coyn, we Anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this Song. Come Hostis, give us more Ale and lets drink to him.
And now lets everie one go to bed that we may rise early; but first lets pay our Reckoning, for I wil have nothing to hinder me in the morning for I will prevent the Sun rising.
_Pet_. A match: Come _Coridon_, you are to be my Bed-fellow: I know brother you and your Scholer wil lie together; but where shal we meet to morrow night? for my friend _Coridon_ and I will go up the water towards _Ware_.