178 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



greyer colour than that beautiful fish, and derive 

 their name from that circumstance. 



So soon as I had changed my tackle, my en- 

 thusiastic companion came sauntering up to me. 

 I am not quite clear that he was fully sensible of 

 my presence, for his heart seemed still to be 

 amongst the Apennines with Poussin. I made 

 an attempt to dislodge him, and bring him down 

 to the level of my own ideas. 



" You know," said I, " that Gaspar was a great 

 sportsman, though it is not probable that he ever 

 caught a salmon, which is a northern fish ; but if 

 you will condescend to transport yourself from 

 the banks of the Arno to those of the Tweed, and 

 to walk an hour or two with me, I think I can 

 promise that you shall see such a feat performed." 



Stranger (abstractedly) : 



" Fluminaque antiquos subterlabentia muros. 11 



" Come now, sink Virgil and the artist a little ; 

 put your sketch-book in your pocket, and let us 

 see what can be done with the salmon. Your 

 quotations, my dear sir, with your permission, will 

 keep, as they have kept, for ages — 



" Adde tot egregias urbes. 



No, no ; there are no eminent cities or towns 

 here, only Melrose and Gattonside ; and if you 

 call these 'egregias urbes,' you are egregiously 

 mistaken." 



He made no reply, but looked at me with a 

 smile that seemed directed at the simplicity and 

 absence of his own character. 



