FLY-FISHING FOR TROUT 103 



so as Solomon observes, he that considers the wind shall 

 never sow : so he that busies his head too much about 

 them, if the weather be not made extreme cold by an 

 east wind, shall be a little superstitious ; for, as there 

 is no good horse of a bad colour, so I have observed, 

 if it be a cloudy day and not extreme cold, let the 

 wind sit in what corner it will, and do its worst, 

 I heed it not. And yet take this for a rule, that I 

 would willingly fish standing on the lee-shore. But 

 I promised to tell you more of the fly-fishing for a 



70 trout ; which I may have time enough to do, for you 

 see it rains May butter. First for a May-fly: you 

 may make his body with greenish-coloured crewel, or 

 willowish colour, darkening it in most places with 

 waxed silk, and such wings for the colour as you see 

 the fly to have at that season, nay, at that very day, 

 on the water. And let me tell you that you keep as 

 far from the water as you can possibly, whether you 

 fish with a fly or worm ; and fish down the stream. 

 And, when you fish with a fly, if it be possible let no 



so part of your line touch the water but your fly only ; 

 and be still moving your fly upon the water, or 

 casting it into the water, you yourself being always 

 moving down the stream. And now, scholar, the 

 shower is ended, 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 



90 and sit down quietly and try to catch the other brace 

 of trouts. 



