24 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i 



VENATOR. Sir, you have almost amazed me ; for though I am 

 no Scoffer, yet I have, I pray let me speak it without oifence, 

 always looked upon Anglers, as more patient, and more simple 

 men, than I fear I shall find you to be. 



PlSCATOR. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestness to 

 be impatience : and for my simplicity, if by that you mean a 

 harmlessness, or that simplicity which was usually found in the 

 primitive Christians, who were, as most Anglers are, quiet men, 

 and followers of peace ; men that were so simply wise, as not to 

 sell their consciences to buy riches, and with them vexation and a 

 fear to die ; if you mean such simple men as lived in those times 

 when there were fewer lawyers ; when men might have had a lord- 

 ship safely conveyed to them in a piece of parchment no bigger 

 than your hand, though several sheets will not do it safely in this 

 wiser age ; I say, Sir, if you take us Anglers to be such simple 

 men as I have spoke of, then myself and those of my profession 

 will be glad to be so understood : But if by simplicity you meant 

 to express a general defect in those that profess and practise the 

 excellent Art of Angling, I hope in time to disabuse you, and make 

 the contrary appear so evidently, that if you will but have patience 

 to hear me, I shall remove all the anticipations that discourse, 4 or 

 time, or prejudice, have possessed you with against that laudable 

 and ancient Art ; for I know it is worthy the knowledge and 

 practice of a wise man. 



But, Gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I am not so un- 

 mannerly as to engross all the discourse to myself ; and therefore, 

 you two having declared yourselves, the one to be a lover of 

 Hawks, the other of Hounds, I shall be most glad to hear what 

 you can say in the commendation of that recreation which each of 

 you love and practise ; and having heard what you can say, I 



VARIATION. 



4 Discourse may have possessed you with, against that ancient and laudable Art. 



Viator. Why, Sir, is Angling of antiquity, and an Art, and an Art not easily 

 learned? 



Piscator. Yes, Sir ; and I doubt not but that if you and I were to converse together 

 but till night, I should leave you possessed with the same happy thoughts that now 

 possess_me ; not only from the antiquity of it, but that it deserves commendations ; and 

 that it is an Art, and worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise and a serious man. 



Viator. Sir, I pray speak of them what you shall think fit ; for we have yet five 

 miles to walk before we shall come to the Thatched House. And, Sir, though my 

 infirmities are many, yet I dare promise you, that both my patience and attention will 

 endure to hear what you will say till we come thither: and if you please to begin in 

 order with the antiquity, when that is done you shall not want my attention to the 

 commendations and accommodations of it: and lastly, if you shall convince me that it is 

 an Art, and an Art worth learning, I shall beg I may become your scholar, both to wait 

 upon you, and be instructed in the Art itself. 



