A belt of straw and ivy buds, With coral clasps and amber studs; Prepar'd each day for thee and me. The shepherd-swains shall dance and sing, VEN. Trust me, master, it is a choice song, and sweetly sung by honest Maudlin. I now see it was not without cause, that our good Queen Elizabeth did so often wish herself a Milk-maid all 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 does so. I'll bestow Sir Thomas Overbury's Milk-maid's wish upon her, " That she may die in the spring, and being dead, may have good store of flowers stuck around about her winding-sheet." : THE MILK-MAID'S MOTHER'S ANSWER. If all the world and love were young, But time drives flocks from field to fold; The flowers do fade, and wanton fields Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy bed of roses, Thy belt of straw and ivy-buds, What should we talk of dainties, then, But could youth last, and love still breed, MOTHER. Well, I have done my song; but stay, honest Anglers, for I will make Maudlin to sing you one short song more. Maudlin, sing that song that you sung last night, when young Coridon the shepherd played so purely on his oaten pipe to you and your Cousin Betty. MAUD. I will, mother. I married a wife of late, The more's my unhappy fate: But oh! the green-sickness Soon changed her likeness; And all her beauty did fail. With those that go, Through frost and snow, As all men know, And carry the milking-pail. I thank you. PISC. Well sung, good woman: I'll give you another dish of fish one of these days, and then beg another song of you. Come, scholar, let Maudlin alone; do not you offer to spoil her voice. Look! yonder comes mine hostess, to call us to supper. How now! is my Brother Peter come? HOST. Yes, and a friend with him. They are both glad to hear that you are in these parts, and long to see you, and long to be at supper, for they be very hungry. CHAPTER V. MORE DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR, AND HOW TO MAKE FOR THE TROUT AN ARTIFICIAL MINNOW, AND FLIES; WITH SOME MERRIMENT. PISCATOR. WELL met, brother Peter! I heard you and a friend would lodge here to-night, and that hath made me to bring my friend to lodge here too. My friend is one that would fain be a brother of the Angle; he hath been an Angler but this day, and I have taught him how to catch a Chub by daping with a grasshopper, and the Chub he caught was a lusty one of nineteen inches long. But pray, brother Peter, who is your companion? PETER. Brother Piscator, my friend is an honest countryman, and his name is Coridon; and he is a downright witty companion, that met me here purposely to be pleasant and eat a Trout, and I have not yet wetted my line since we met together; but I hope to fit him with a Trout for his breakfast, for I'll be early up. Pisc. Nay, brother, you shall not stay so long: for look you, here is a Trout will fill six reasonable bellies. Come, hostess, dress it presently, and get us what other meat the house will afford; and give |