To make the Line.
THEN GET good hair, so that it be not black, Neither of mare nor gelding let it be; Nor of the tireling jade that bears the pack; But of some lusty horse or courser free, Whose bushy tail upon the ground doth track Like blazing comet that sometimes we see: From out the midst thereof the longest take At leisure best your links and lines to make.
Then twist them finely as you think most meet, By skill or practice easy to be found; As doth ARACHNE with her slender feet, **[5. p. 192.] Draw forth her little thread along the ground: But not too hard or slack, the mean is sweet; Lest slack, they snarl; or hard, they prove unsound: And intermix with silver, silk or gold, **[6. p. 192.] The tender hairs, the better so to hold.
Then end to end, as falleth to their lot, Let all your links, in order as they lie, Be knit together with that fisher's knot That will not slip nor with the wet untie; And at the lowest end forget it not To leave a bout or compass like an eye, **[7. p. 192] The link that holds your hook to hang upon, When you think good to take it off and on.
Which link must neither be so great nor strong, Nor like of colour as the others were; **[5. p. 192.] Scant half so big, so that it be as long, Of greyest hue and of the soundest hair;
