272 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



'tis prettily contrived. Has my master Walton ever 

 been here to see it, for it seems new built ? * 



Pise. Yes, he saw it cut in the stone, before it was 

 set up ; but never in the posture it now stands ; for 

 the house was but building when he was last here, and 

 not raised so high as the arch of the door. And I am 

 afraid he will not see it yet ; for he has lately writ me 

 word, he doubts his coming down this summer ; which, 

 I do assure you, was the worst news he could possibly 

 have sent me. 



VIAT. Men must sometimes mind their affairs to make 

 more room for their pleasures : and 'tis odds he is as 

 much displeased with the business that keeps him from 

 you, as you are that he comes not. But I am 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. Why, this is better and better, fine lights, 

 fine wainscoted, and all exceeding neat, with a marble 

 table and all in the middle I 



Pise. Enough, Sir, enough ; I have laid open to 

 you the part where I can worst defend myself, and now 



* I have been favoured with an accurate description of this fishing- 

 house, by a person, who, being in that country, with a view to oblige 

 me, went to see it. The account he gave of it is, that it is of stone, 

 and the room inside a cube of fifteen feet ; that it is paved with black 

 and white marble, and that in the middle is a square black marble 

 table supported by two stone feet. The room is wainscoted with 

 curious mouldings that divide the pannels up to the ceiling. In the 

 larger pannels are represented, in painting, some of the most pleasant 

 of the adjacent scenes, with persons fishing ; and in the smaller, 

 the various sorts of tackle and implements used in angling. In the 

 farther corner, on the left, is a fire-place with a chimney ; on the 

 right, a large beaufet, with folding-doors, whereon are the portraits 

 of Mr. Cotton, with a boy servant, and Walton, in the dress of the 

 time. Underneath is a cupboard ; on the door whereof the figures 

 of a trout and a grayling are well portrayed. The edifice is at this 

 time (1784) in but indifferent condition ; the paintings, and even 

 the wainscoting, in many places, being much decayed. Hawkins 

 (son of Sir John). 



