THE COMPLETE ANGLER 273 



you attack me there. 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. 



VIAT. None fitter, then, Sir, for the time and place, 

 than those instructions you promised. 



Pise. I begin to doubt, by something I discover in 

 you, whether I am able to instruct you or no ; though, 

 if you are really a stranger to our clear northern rivers, I 

 still think I can : and therefore, since it is yet too early 

 in the morning at this time of the year, to-day being but 

 the seventh of March, to cast a fly upon the water, if you 

 will direct me what kind of fishing for a trout I shall 

 read you a lecture on, I am willing and ready to obey you. 



VIAT. Why, Sir, if you will so far oblige me, and 

 that it may not be too troublesome to you, I would entreat 

 you would run through the whole body of it ; and I will 

 not conceal from you that I am so far in love with you, 

 your courtesy, and pretty More-Land seat, as to resolve to 

 stay with you long enough by intervals, for I will not 

 oppress you to hear all you can say upon that subject. 



Pise. You cannot oblige me more than by such a pro- 

 mise : and therefore, without more ceremony, I will begin 

 to tell you, that my father Walton having read to you 

 before, it would look like a presumption in me (and, 

 peradventure, would do so in any other man), to pretend 

 to give lessons for angling after him, who, I do really 

 believe, understands as much of it at least as any man in 

 England, did I not preacquaint you, that I am not 

 tempted to it by any vain opinion of myself, that I am 

 able to give you better directions ; but having, from my 

 childhood, pursued the recreation of angling in very clear 

 rivers, truly I think by much, some of them at least, the 

 clearest in this kingdom, and the manner of angling 

 here with us, by reason of that exceeding clearness, being 

 something different from the method commonly used in 



