36 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



came so lately into my company that I have 

 scarcely had time to ask him the question. 



Auceps. Sir, I shall, by your favor, bear you 

 company as far as Theobald's, and there leave 

 you ; for then I turn up to a friend's house, who 

 mews a hawk 2 for me, which I now long to see. 



Ven. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, 

 fresh, cool morning, and I hope we shall each be 

 the happier in the others' company. And, gentle- 

 men, that I may not lose yours, I shall either abate 

 or amend my pace to enjoy it ; knowing that, as 

 the Italians say, good company in a journey makes 

 the way to seem the shorter. 



Auc. It may do so, sir, with the help of good 

 discourse, which, methinks, we may promise from 

 you, that both look and speak so cheerfully ; and 

 for my part I promise you, as an invitation to it, 

 that I will be as free and open-hearted as discre- 

 tion will allow me to be with strangers. 



Ven. And, sir, I promise the like. 



Pise. I am right glad to hear your answers ; 

 and in confidence you speak the truth, I shall put 

 on a boldness to ask you, sir, whether business or 

 pleasure caused you to be so early up, and walk 

 so fast ; for this other gentleman hath declared 

 he is going to see a hawk, that a friend mews for 

 him. 



1 "Mews a hawk," from the French word mue: the care 

 taken of a hawk during the moulting-season, from about the first 

 of March till August; hence the places where hawks were trained 

 and kept were called mews. 



