PI SCAT OR AND VENATOR 171 



comparison of the various sports, giving the reasons for 

 her preference of angling. ' Huntynge is toe laboryous, 

 for the hunter must always renne and folowe his 

 houndes : traueyllynge and swetynge full sore, and 

 blowynge tyll his lyppes blyster.' ' Hawkynge is 

 laboryous and noyouse also as me seemeth.' ' Fowl- 

 ynge is greuous.' But the 'angler mayehaue no cold 

 nor dysease nor angre, but if he be causer hymself. 

 For he may not lese at the moost, but a lyne or an 

 hoke . . . and other greyffes may he not haue, sauynge 

 but yf ony fysshe breke away after that he is take on 

 the hoke, or elles that he catch nought.' A dialogue 

 on the same topic forms the opening chapter of the 

 ' Compleat Angler,' and, like my prototype, ' I accuse 

 nobody ; for, as I would not make a watery discourse, 

 so I would not put too much vinegar into it, nor would 

 I raise the reputation of my own art, by the diminu- 

 tion or ruin of another's.' 



Lochiel enumerates certain tests by which to try 

 each of these sports separately, taking as the first ' the 

 degree of pleasure derived from success.' 



This test no doubt is a fair one, but the human 

 temperament varies so infinitely that it is not very 

 easy of application. There are some misguided 

 individuals who enjoy a public dinner or a charity 

 bazaar, and who would rather hear the sound of 



