CHAP, i.] THE FIRST DA K 23 



are an abomination to mankind, let him that thinks fit scoff on, 

 and be a Scoffer still ; but I account them enemies to me and all 

 that love Virtue and Angling. 



And for you that have heard many grave, serious men pity 

 Anglers ; let 1 me tell you, Sir, there be many men that are by 

 others taken to be serious and grave men, whom we contemn and 

 pity. Men that are taken to be grave, because nature hath made 

 them of a sour complexion ; money-getting men, men that spend 

 al 1 their time, first in getting, and next, in anxious care to keep 

 it ; men that are condemned to be rich, and then always busy or 

 discontented : for these poor rich men, we Anglers pity them per- 

 fectly, and stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think our- 

 selves so happy, No, no, Sir, we enjoy a contentedness above 

 the reach of such dispositions, and as the learned and ingenuous 

 Montaigne* says, like himself, freely, (( When my Cat and I 

 entertain each other with mutual apish tricks, as playing with a 

 garter, who knows but that I make my Cat more sport than she 

 makes me ? Shall I conclude her to be simple, that has her time 

 to begin or refuse, to play as freely as I myself have ? Nay, who 

 knows but that it is a defect of my not understanding her language, 

 for doubtless Cats talk and reason with one another, that we agree 

 no better : and who knows but that she pities me for being no 

 wiser than to play with her, and laughs 2 and censures my folly, 

 for making sport for her, when we two play together ? " 



Thus freely speaks Montaigne concerning Cats ; and I hope I 

 may take as great a liberty to blame any man, and laugh at him 

 too, let him be never so grave, 3 that hath not heard what Anglers 

 can say in the justification of their Art and Recreation ; which I 

 may again tell you, is so full of pleasure, that we need not borrow 

 their thoughts, to think ourselves happy. 



VARIATIONS. 



1 And as for any scoffer, gut mockat mockabitur. Let me tell you, that you may 

 tell him what the witty Frenchman says in such a case: "When my Cat and I enter- 

 tain each other with mutual apish tricks, as playing with a garter, who knows but that 

 I make her more sport than she makes me? Shall I conclude her simple, that has her 

 time to begin or refuse sportiveness as freely as I myself have? Nay, who knows but 

 that our agreeing no better is the defect of my not understanding her language ? for, 

 doubtless, Cats talk and reason with one another ; and that she laughs at and censures 

 my folly for making her sport, and pities me for understanding her no better ?" To this 

 purpose speaks Montaigne concerning Cats ; and I hope I may take as great a liberty to 

 blame any Scoffer, that has never heard what an Angler can say in justification of his 

 Art and Pleasure. 



* than to play with her, and laughs. Omitted in the -$d edition. 



3 serious. until $tA edit. 



* In the Apology for Raimonde de Sebcnde. 



