252 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



Sir, large measure of foul way is not altogether so 

 acceptable. 



Pise. True, Sir ; but the foul way serves to justify the 

 fertility of the soil, according to the proverb, " There 

 is good land where there is foul way " ; and is of good 

 use to inform you of the riches of the country you are 

 come into, and of its continual travel and traffic to the 

 country town you came from : which is also very observ- 

 able by the fulness of its road, and the loaden horses you 

 meet everywhere upon the way. 



VIAT. Well, Sir, I will be content to think as well of 

 your country as you would desire ; and I shall have a 

 great deal of reason both to think and to speak very well 

 of you, if I may obtain the happiness of your company 

 to the fore-mentioned place, provided your affairs lead 

 you that way, and that they will permit you to slack 

 your pace, out of complacency to a traveller utterly a 

 stranger in these parts, and who am still to wander 

 further out of my own knowledge. 



Pise. Sir, you invite me to my own advantage, and 

 I am ready to attend you, my way lying through that 

 town ; but my business, that is, my home, some miles 

 beyond it : however, I shall have time enough to lodge 

 you in your quarters, and afterward to perform my own 

 journey. In the meantime, may I be so bold as to 

 enquire the end of your journey ? 



VIAT. 'Tis into Lancashire, Sir ; and about some 

 business of concern to a near relation of mine ; for I 

 assure you, I do not use to take such long journeys as 

 from Essex upon the single account of pleasure. 



Pise. From thence, Sir ! I do not then wonder you 

 should appear dissatisfied with the length of the miles, 

 and the foulness of the way : though I am sorry you 

 should begin to quarrel with them so soon ; for believe 

 me, Sir, you will find the miles much longer, and the 

 way much worse, before you come to your journey's end. 



