6 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



" that we agree no better ? And who knows but that 

 " she pities me for being no wiser, than to play with 

 " her, and laughs and censures my folly for making 

 " sport for her, when we two play together ? " 



Thus freely speaks Montaigne concerning cats, 

 and I hope I may take as great a liberty to blame 

 any man, and laugh at him too, let him be never so 

 grave, that hath not heard what Anglers can say in 

 the justification of their art and recreation ; which 

 I may again tell you is so full of pleasure, that we 

 need not borrow their thoughts to think ourselves 

 happy. 



Ven. Sir, you have almost amazed me : for though 

 I am no scoffer, yet I have, I pray let me speak it 

 without offence, always looked upon Anglers as 

 more patient and more simple men, than I fear I 

 shall find you to be. 



Pise. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnest- 

 ness to be impatience : and for my simplicity, if by 

 that you mean a harmlessness, or that simplicity 

 which was usually found in the primitive chris- 

 tians, who were, as most Anglers are, quiet men 

 and followers of peace ; men that were so simply- 

 wise, as not to sell their consciences to buy riches, 

 and with them vexation and a fear to die ; if you 

 mean such simple men as lived in those times when 

 there were fewer lawyers ; when men might have 

 had a Lordship safely conveyed to them in a piece 

 of parchment no bigger than your hand, though 

 several sheets will not do it safely in this wiser age ; 



