2 SALMONIA. 



Phys. — Of your own catching ? 



Hal. — Yes, with the artificial fly. 



Phys. — I admire the fish, but I cannot 

 admire the art by which it was taken ; and I 

 wonder how a man of your active mind and 

 enthusiastic character can enjoy what appears 

 to me a stupid and melancholy occupation. 



Hal. — I might as well wonder, in my 

 turn, that a man of your discursive imagina- 

 tion and disposition to contemplation should 

 not admire this occupation, and that you 

 should venture to call it either stupid or 

 melancholy. 



Phys. — I have at least the authority of a 

 great moralist, Johnson, for its folly. 



Hal. — I will allow no man, however great 

 a philosopher, or moralist, to abuse an occu- 

 pation he has not tried ; and as well as I re- 

 member, this same illustrious person praised 

 the book and the character of the great pa- 

 triarch of Anglers, Isaac Walton. 



Phys. — There is another celebrated man, 

 however, who has abused this your patriarch, 

 Lord Byron, and that in terms not very qua- 

 lified. He calls him, as well as I can recollect, 



