THE COMPLETE ANGLER 271 



and landing-net ; and stay you there till we come. Come, 

 Sir, we'll walk after, where, by the way, I expect you 

 should raise all the exceptions against our country 

 you can. 



VIAT. Nay, Sir, do not think me so ill-natured nor 

 so uncivil : I only made a little bold with it last night 

 to divert you, and was only in jest. 



Pise. You were then in as good earnest as I am now 

 with you : but had you been really angry at it, I could 

 not blame you : for, to say the truth, it is not very 

 taking at first sight. But look you, Sir, now you are 

 abroad, does not the sun shine as bright here as in 

 Essex, Middlesex, or Kent, or any of your southern 

 counties ? 



VIAT. It is a delicate morning indeed ; and I now 

 think this a marvellous pretty place. 



Pise. Whether you think so or no, you cannot oblige 

 me more than to say so ; and those of my friends who 

 know my humour, and are so kind as to comply with 

 it, usually flatter me that way. But look you, Sir, 

 now you are at the brink of the hill, how do you like 

 my river, the vale it winds through like a snake, and 

 the situation of my little fishing-house ? 



VIAT. Trust me, 'tis all very fine, and the house 

 seems at this distance a neat building. 



Pise. Good enough for that purpose : and here is a 

 bowling-green too, close by it ; so, though I am myself 

 no very good bowler, I am not totally devoted to my 

 own pleasure, but that I have also some regard to other 

 men's. And now, Sir, you are come to the door, pray 

 walk in, and there we will sit and talk as long as you 

 please. 



VIAT. Stay, what's here over the door ? PISCATORIBUS 

 SACRUM. Why then, I perceive I have some title 

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

 and here below it is the cypher too you spoke of, and 



