chap, i.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 15 



in commendations of the earth ? That puts limits to 

 the proud and raging sea, and by that means pre- 

 serves both man and beast that it destroys them 

 not, as we see it daily doth those that venture upon 

 the sea, and are there shipwrecked, drowned, and 

 left to feed haddocks ; when we that are so wise as 

 to keep ourselves on earth, walk, and talk, and live, 

 and eat, and drink, and go a hunting : of which 

 recreation I will say a little, and then leave Mr. 

 Piscator to the commendation of Angling. 



Hunting is a game for Princes and noble per- 

 sons ; it hath been highly prized in all ages ; it was 

 one of the qualifications that Xenophon bestowed on 

 his Cyrus, that he was a hunter of wild-beasts. 

 Hunting trains up the younger nobility to the use 

 of manly exercises in their riper age. "What more 

 manly exercise than hunting the Wild-Boar, the 

 Stag, the Buck, the Fox, or the Hare ? How doth 

 it preserve health, and increase strength and ac- 

 tivity ! 



And for the dogs that we use, who can commend 

 their excellency to that height which they deserve ? 

 How perfect is the Hound at smelling, who never 

 leaves or forsakes his first scent, but follows it 

 through so many changes and varieties of other 

 scents, even over, and in the water, and into the 

 earth ! What music doth a pack of dogs then make 

 to any man, whose heart and ears are so happy as 

 to be set to the tune of such instruments ! How 

 will a right Greyhound fix his eye on the best buck 



