chap, i.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 7 



— I say, Sir, if you take us Anglers to be such simple 

 men as I have spoken of, then myself and those of 

 my profession will be glad to be so understood .- 

 But if by simplicity you meant to express a general 

 defect in those that profess and practise the excel- 

 lent Art of Angling, I hope in time to disabuse you, 

 and make the contrary appear so evidently, that 

 if you will but have patience to hear me, I shall 

 remove all the anticipations that discourse, or time, 

 or prejudice, have possessed you with against that 

 laudable and ancient Art ; for I know it is worthy 

 the knowledge and practice of a wise man. 



But, Gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I 

 am not so unmannerly as to engross all the discourse 

 to myself : and, therefore, you two having declared 

 yourselves, the one to be a lover of Hawks, the 

 other of Hounds, I shall be most glad to hear what 

 you can say in the commendation of that recreation 

 which each of you love and practise ; and, having 

 heard what you can say, I shall be glad to exercise 

 your attention with what I can say concerning my 

 own recreation and Art of Angling, and by this 

 means, we shall make the way to seem the shorter : 

 and if you like my motion, I would have Mr. Fal- 

 coner to begin. 



Auc. Your motion is consented to with all my 

 heart ; and, to testify it, I will begin as you have 

 desired me. 



And first, for the Element that I use to trade in, 

 which is the Air, an element of more worth than 



