The Compleat Angler

or, Milk-woman,

his seasons; for it is observed, that he comes in and goes out of season with the stag and buck. Gesner says, his name is of a German offspring; and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely, in the swiftest streams, and on the ha

d so do Trouts. It is well known that in the Lake Leman, the Lake of Geneva, there are Trouts taken of three cubits long; as is affirmed by Gesner, a writer of good credit: and Mercator says, the Trouts that are taken in the Lake of Geneva are a great part of the merchandize of that famous city. And you are further to know, that there be certain waters that breed Trouts remarkable, both for their number and smallness. I know a little brook in Kent, that breeds them to a number incredible, and

; and in their best season they cut very white: and none of these have been known to be caught with an angle, unless it were one that was caught by Sir George Hastings, an excellent angler, and now with God: and he hath told me, he thought that Trout bit not for hun

Psalms, "to feed the young ravens that call upon him ". And they be kept alive and fed by a dew; or worms that breed in their nests; or some other ways that we mortals know not. And this may be believed of the Fordidge Trout, which, as it is said of the stork, that he knows his season, so he knows his times, I think almost his day of coming into that river out of the sea; where he lives, and, it is

to fly in England for six months in the year, but about Michaelmas leave us for a hotter climate, yet some of them that have been left behind their fellows, have been found, many thousands at a time, in hollow trees, or clay caves, where they have been observed to live, and sleep

in the fresh water, by their meat formerly gotten in the sea, not unlike the swallow or frog, or, by the virtue

to the sea, Salmon-trouts, as much different from others, both in shape and in their spots, as we see sheep in some countries differ one from another in their shape and bigne

owth than other fish. Concerning which, you are also to take notice, that he lives not so long as the

ost miraculously, through weirs and flood-gates, against the stream; even through such high and swift places as is almost incredible. Next, that the Trout usually spawns about October or November, but in some rivers a little sooner or later; which is the more observable, because most other fish spawn in the spring or summer, when the sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and made it fit fo

ke a clove, or pin with a big head, and sticks close to him, and sucks his moisture, those, I think, the Trout breeds himself: and never thrives till he free himself from them, which is when warm weather comes; and, then, as he grows stronger, he gets from the dead still water into the sharp streams and the gravel, and, there, rubs off these worms or lice; and

ood; but that is not usual: and it is a note observable, that the female Trout hath usually a less head, and a deeper body than the male Trout, and is

hers do, so some Trouts be, in rivers, sooner in season: and as some hollies, or oaks, are longer

the Royal Society have found and published lately, that there be thirty and three kinds of spiders; and yet all, for aught I know, go under that one general name of spider. And it is so with many kinds of fish, and of Trouts especially; which differ in their bigness, and shape, and spots, and colour. The great Kentish hens may be an instance, compared to other he

t my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning,

rout than a Chub; for I have put on patience, and followed you these tw

t now, and a good one too, if I can but hold him; and two or three turns more will tire him. Now you see he lies still, and the sleight i

r, this is a gallant Trout

ul companion, had sent word he would lodge there to-night, and bring a friend with him. My hostess has two beds, and I know you and I may have the best: we'll rejoice with my

white, and smells of lavender, and I long to lie in a pair of sheets that

eabout we shall have a bite presently, or not at all. Have with you, Sir: o' my word I have hold of him. Oh! it is a great logger-headed Chub; come, hang him upon that willow twig, and let's be going. But turn out of the way a

g the silver streams glide silently towards their centre, the tempestuous sea; yet sometimes opposed by rugged roots and pebble-stones, which broke their waves, and turned them into foam; and sometimes I beguiled time by viewing the harmless lambs; some leaping securely in the

t time lifted

ys not promis'

way all care, and sung like a nightingale. Her voice was good, and the ditty fitted for it; it was that smooth song which was made by Kit Marlow, now at least fifty years ago; and the milk-maid's mother sung an answer to it, which was made by Sir Walter Raleigh, in his younger da

ll to my bed; and having caught more fish than will sup myself and my frie

give you a syllabub of new verjuice, in a new-made hay-cock, for it. And my Maudlin shall sing you one of her best ballads; for she and I both

nothing, and yet we will think ourselves still something in your debt: it is but to sing us a song

k your herds "? or, "As at noon Dulcina rested"? or, "Phillida flou

s a Song that your daughter sung the fi

s me best now, but two or three years ago, when the cares of the world began to take hold of me: but you shall, God willing, hear them both; and sung as wel

k-maid'

ith me, and

all the plea

groves, or hil

d steepy mou

ll sit upon

shepherds fe

rivers, to

birds sing

make thee b

thousand fr

lowers, an

all with lea

e of the f

our pretty

n'd choicely

es of the

straw an

clasps, and

pleasures m

with me, an

dishes, f

s as the G

an ivory

ch day for

swains shall

ight, each

ights thy mi

ith me, and

ll 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

aid's moth

orld and lov

every sheph

pleasures m

h thee, and

s flocks from

rage, and ro

omel beco

plains of c

do fade, and

winter reck

ngue, a he

pring but so

y shoes, thy

kirtle, and

oon wither, s

ise, in re

f straw, a

lasps, and

n me no mea

thee, and b

we talk of d

eat than's

t vain: that

h blessed and

h last, and lo

date, nor

elights my m

h thee, and

ng you one short song more. Maudlin! sing that song that you sung last night, when youn

I will,

d a wife

s my unha

ed her

ncy did

or a worl

the gree

nged her

er beauty

tis n

hose t

rost a

l men

the milk

; and then beg another song of you. Come, scholar! let Maudlin alone: do not you offer to spoil he

d to hear that you are in these parts; and long to see

rd day-

he T