Look how it begins to rain!--and by the clouds, if I mistake not, we
shall presently have a smoking shower, and therefore sit close: this
sycamore-tree will shelter us; and I will tell you, as they shall come
into my mind, more observations of fly-fishing for a trout....

... And now, scholar, my direction for fly-fishing is ended with this
shower, for it has done raining: and now look about you, and see how
pleasantly that meadow looks; nay, and the earth smells as sweetly too.
Come, let me tell you what holy Mr. Herbert says of such days and
flowers as these; and then we will thank God that we enjoy them, and
walk to the river and sit down quietly, and try to catch the other brace
of trouts.

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky:
The dew shall weep thy fall to-night;
For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave,
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye,
Thy root is ever in its grave;
And thou must die.

Sweet Spring, full of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie;
Thy music shows ye have your closes;
And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,
Like season'd timber, never gives;
But, though the whole world turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.

_Venator._--I thank you, good master, for your good direction for
fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, which is
so far spent without offence to God or man; and I thank you for the
sweet close of your discourse with Mr. Herbert's verses, who, I have
heard, loved angling; and I do the rather believe it, because he had a
spirit suitable to anglers, and to those primitive Christians that you
love and have so much commended.

_Piscator._--Well, my loving scholar, and I am pleased to know that you
are so well pleased with my direction and discourse.... And now, I think
it will be time to repair to our angle-rods, which we left in the water
to fish for themselves: and you shall choose which shall be yours; and
it is an even lay, one of them catches.

And, let me tell you, this kind of fishing with a dead rod, and laying
night-hooks, are like putting money to use; for they both work for the
owners, when they do nothing but sleep, or eat, or rejoice; as you know
we have done this last hour, and sat as quietly, and as free from cares
under t