io The Complete Angler 



fme 3 fresh, cool morning ; and I hope we shall each 

 be the happier in the others' company. And, 

 Gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, I shall 

 either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it, know- 

 ing that, as the Italians say, " Good company in a 

 journey makes the way to seem the shorter ". 



AUCEPS. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good 

 discourse, which, methinks, we may promise from 

 you, that both look and speak so cheerfully : and 

 for my part, I promise you, as an invitation to it, 

 that I will be as free and open hearted as discretion 

 will allow me to be with strangers. 



VENATOR. And, Sir, I promise the like. 



PlSCATOR. I am right glad to hear your answers ; 

 and, in confidence you speak the truth, I shall put 

 on a boldness to ask you, Sir, whether business or 

 pleasure caused you to be so early up, and walk so 

 fast ? for this other gentleman hath declared he is 

 going to see a hawk, that a friend mews for him. 



VENATOR. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little 

 business and more pleasure ; for I intend this day 

 to do all my business, and then bestow another day 

 or two in hunting the Otter, which a friend, that I 

 go to meet, tells me is much pleasanter than any 

 other chase whatsoever : howsoever, I mean to try 

 it; for to-morrow morning we shall meet a pack 

 of Otter-dogs of noble Mr. Sadler's, upon Amwell 

 Hill, who will be there so early, that they intend 

 to prevent the sunrising. 



PlSCATOR. Sir, my fortune has answered my 

 desires, and my purpose is to bestow a day or two 

 in helping to destroy some of those villanous 

 vermin: for I hate them perfectly, because they 

 love fish so well, or rather, because they destroy 

 so much ; indeed so much, that, in my judgment 

 all men that keep Otter-dogs ought to have pen- 

 sions from the King, to encourage them to destroy 



