268 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part it. 



Viat. I am very glad to hear it, both for the 

 ease of myself and my horse : hut especially because 

 I may then expect a freer enjoyment of your con- 

 versation : though the shortness of the way will, I 

 fear, make me lose it the sooner. 



Pise. That, Sir, is not worth your care ; and I 

 am sure you deserve much better, for being con- 

 tent with so ill company. But we have already 

 talked away two miles of your journey ; for, from 

 the brook before us, that runs at the foot of this 

 sandy hill, you have but three miles to Ashbourn. 



Viat. I meet every-where in this country with 

 these little brooks ; and they look as as if they were 

 full of fish. Have they not Trouts in them ? 



Pise. That is a cpiestion which is to be excused 

 in a stranger, as you are : otherwise, give me leave 

 to tell you, it would seem a kind of affront to our 

 country, to make a doubt of what we pretend to be 

 famous for, next, if not before, our malt, wool, lead, 

 and coal : for you are to understand, that we think 

 we have as many fine rivers, rivulets, and brooks, 

 as any country whatever ; and they are all full of 

 Trouts, and some of them the best, it is said, by 

 many degrees in England. 



Viat. I was first, Sir, in love with you, and now 

 shall be so enamoured of your country, by this ac- 

 count you give me of it, as to wish myself a Derby- 

 shire man, or at least that I might live in it : for 

 you must know I am a pretender to the Angle, and, 



