THE COMPLETE ANGLER 287 



as tender as you can. Very good ! upon my word you 

 have made a marvellous handsome fly. 



VIAT. I am very glad to hear it ; it is the first that 

 ever I made of this kind in my life. 



Pise. Away, away I you are a doctor at it ; but I 

 will not commend you too much, lest I make you proud. 

 Come, put it on, and you shall now go downward to some 

 streams betwixt the rocks below the little foot-bridge 

 you see there, and try your fortune. Take heed of 

 slipping into the water as you follow me under this rock : 

 so, now you are over, and now throw in. 



VIAT. This is a fine stream indeed : there's one ! I 

 have him. 



Pise. And a precious catch you have of him ; pull 

 him out ! I see you have a tender hand : this is a 

 diminutive gentleman, e'en throw him in again, and let 

 him grow till he be more worthy your anger.* 



VIAT. Pardon me, Sir, all's fish that come's to the hook 

 with me now. Another ! 



Pise. And of the same standing. 



VIAT. I see I shall have good sport now : another 1 

 and a grayling. Why you have fish here at will. 



Pise. Come, come, cross the bridge, and go down the 

 other side lower, where you will find finer streams and 

 better sport, I hope, than this. Look you, Sir, here is a 

 fine stream now, you have length enough, stand a little 

 further off, let me entreat you, and do but fish this stream 

 like an artist, and peradventure a good fish may fall to 

 your share. How now ! what ! is all gone ? 



VIAT. No, I but touch'd him ; but that was a fish 

 worth taking. 



Pise. Why now, let me tell you, you lost that fish by 



* This passage proves Cotton to have been a real sportsman. He 

 contemns catching small fish, and says, " throw them in again." 

 Viator being a novice, sees no discredit in capturing " diminutive 

 gentlemen," and it is quite in keeping with the sentiments of a young 

 angler to exclaim, " All's fish that comes to the hook now." E. 



