66 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



therefore, over two hundred years old, time, 

 the destroyer, has dealt very gently with it. 1 

 Over the door we noticed the inscription, 

 " Piscatoribus sacrum." 



Here, many a time, had Cotton and his 

 venerable friend Izaak Walton rested from 

 their labours, smoked their pipes, and fought 

 their piscatorial battles o'er again. 2 And here 

 are we genuine piscators excluded by lock and 

 key from this sacred abode ! 3 



Surely the executors and administrators of 



1 I find it has been rebuilt more than once. 



2 See "Dove Dale Revisited," p. 132. for correction 

 of this error. 



3 ' ' Piscator. And now, sir, you are come to the door ; 

 pray walk in, and there we'll sit and talk as long as you 

 please. 



** Viator. Stay, what's here, over the door? *' Pisca- 

 toribus sacrum? Why, then, I perceive I have some 

 title here; for I am one of them, though one of the 

 worst. . . . But I am the most pleased with this little 

 house, of any thing I ever saw ; it stands in a kind of 

 peninsula too, with a delicate clear river about it ; I 

 dare hardly go in lest I should not like it so well within 

 as without, but by your leave I'll try ... all exceeding 

 neat, with a marble table and all in the middle. 



" Piscator. . . . Come, boy, set two chairs ; and whilst 

 I am taking a pipe of tobacco, which is always my 

 breakfast, we will, if you please, talk of some other 

 subject." Compkat Angler. 



