THE COMPLETE ANGLER 37 



that it is an art, and an art worthy the knowledge and 

 practice of a wise man. 



VEN. Pray, sir, speak of them what you think fit, 

 for we have yet five miles to the Thatched House ; during 

 which walk, I dare promise you my patience and diligent 

 attention shall not be wanting. And if you shall make 

 that to appear which you have undertaken first, that 

 it is an art, and an art worth the learning, I shall beg 

 that I may attend you a day or two a-fishing, and that 

 I may become your scholar and be instructed in the art 

 itself which you so much magnify. 



Pise. 0, sir, doubt not that angling is an art ; is it 

 not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly ? a 

 trout ! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk you 

 have named, and more watchful and timorous than 

 your high mettled merlin is bold ; * and yet I doubt 

 not to catch a brace or two to-morrow for a friend's 

 breakfast ; doubt not, therefore, Sir, but that angling 

 is an art, and an art worth your learning. The question 

 is rather, whether you be capable of learning it ? for 

 angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to be born so : 

 I mean, with inclinations to it, though both may be 

 heightened by discourse and practice : but he that hopes 

 to be a good angler, must not only bring an inquiring, 

 searching, observing wit, but he must bring a large 

 measure of hope and patience, and a love and propensity 

 to the art itself ; but having once got and practised it, 

 then doubt not but angling will prove to be so pleasant, 

 that it will prove to be like virtue, a reward to itself. 



VEN. Sir, I am now become so full of expectation, 

 that I long much to have you proceed ; and in the order 

 you propose. 



Pise. Then first, for the antiquity of angling, of which 



* Walton is evidently thinking of AUCEPS, the falconer so named, 

 who parted company as they neared Theobald's House, otherwise he 

 would not have said to Venator, the hunter with hounds and not 

 with hawks, " your merlin." It may be taken in another sense. E. 



