266 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part ii. 



be a stranger in these parts, I shall take upon me 

 to inform you, that from the town you last came 

 through, called Brailsford, it is five miles ; and you 

 are not yet above half a mile on this side. 



Viat. So much ! I was told it was but ten miles 

 from Derby ; and, methinks, I have rode almost so 

 far already. 



Pise. O, Sir, find no fault with large measure of 

 good land ; which Derbyshire abounds in, as much 

 as most counties of England. 



Viat. It may be so ; and good land, I confess, 

 affords a pleasant prospect : but, by your good 

 leave, Sir, large measure of foul way is not alto- 

 gether so acceptable. 



Pise. True, Sir ; but the foul way serves to jus- 

 tify the fertility of the soil, according to the pro- 

 verb, " There is good land where there is foul 

 " way : " and is of good use to inform you of the 

 riches of the country you are come into, and of it's 

 continual travel and traffic to the country-town you 

 came from : which is also very observable by the 

 fulness of it's road, and the loaden horses you meet 

 every-where upon the way. 



Viat. Well, Sir, I will be content to think as 

 well of your country as you would desire. And I 

 shall have a good deal of reason both to think and 

 to speak very well of you, if I may obtain the hap- 

 piness of your company to the fore-mentioned place ; 

 provided your affairs lead you that way, and that 



