20 TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING. 



For he may not lose at the most, but a line 

 and a hook, of which he may have store plenty of 

 his own making, as this simple treatise shall 

 teach him. So then his loss is not grievous, and 

 other griefs may he not have, saving if any fish 

 break away, after that he is taken on the hook, or 

 else that he catch nought. Which is not grievous. 

 For if he fail of one, he may not fail of another, 

 if he doeth as this treatise teacheth ; except there 

 be aught in the water. 



" And yet, at least he has his wholesome walk 

 and merry at his ease, and hath a sweet air of the 

 sweet savour of the mead flowers that maketh him 

 hungry. He heareth the melodious harmony of 

 fowls. He seeth the young swans, herons, duckes, 

 coots, and many other fowls with their broods : 

 which seemeth to me, better than all the noise of 

 hounds, the blast of horns, and the cry that 

 hunters, falconers, and fowlers, can make. 



" And if the angler take fish, surely then, there 

 is no man merrier than he is in his spirit. 



