CHAP, v.] THE FOURTH DA Y. 107 



And now, scholar, my direction for fly-fishing is ended with 

 this shower, for it has done raining. And now look about you, 

 and see how pleasantly that meadow looks ; nay, and the earth 

 smells as sweetly too. Come, let me tell you what holy Mr 

 Herbert says * of such days and flowers as these, and then we will 

 thank God that we enjoy them, and walk to the river and sit 

 down quietly, and try to catch the other brace of Trouts. 



Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, 



The bridal of the earth and sky, A box where sweets compacted lie ; 



Sweet dews shall weep thy fall to-night, My music shows you have your closes, 

 For thou must die. And all must die. 



Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave, Only a sweet and virtuous soul, 



Bids the rash jjazer wipe his eye, Like season'd timber, never gives, 



Thy root is ever in its grave, But when the whole world turns to coal, 

 And thou must die. Then chiefly lives. 



VENATOR. I thank you, good master, for your good direction 

 for fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, 

 which is so far spent without offence to God or man : and I thank 

 you for the sweet close of your discourse with Mr Herbert's 

 verses ; who, I have heard, loved angling ; and I do the rather 

 believe it, because he had a spirit suitable to anglers, and to 

 those primitive Christians that you love, and have so much 

 commended. 



PlSCATOR. Well, my loving scholar, and I am pleased to 



with Walton, are preserved in the Sloane MS. 1032, and although evidently not intended 

 for publication, are so judicious that their insertion may be excused : "You must have 

 a quick eye. In the evening of a hot day, or in a hot calm day, and the still deep is to 

 be preferred, though on the side of a stream when the water is clearing after great rains 

 or a flood is very proper. Observe to keep out of sight : keep your fly moving. In dib- 

 bing for roach, dace, or chub, I must not let my motion be swift : when I see any of 

 them coming towards the bait, I must make two or three short removes, and then let it 

 glide gently with the stream, if possible towards the fish.' If it be slow or standing 

 water, I must keep it moving with my hand, not just upon him, but sideways and sloping 

 by him : when a pretty good gale stirs the water it is best. If the fish will not rise at 

 top, I will try a little lower. When the wind furls the water, and few flies appear on it 

 or over, I think it a good time for daping. If the sun shines I'll get under a tree, that 

 neither my body nor my rod may shine in the water. If I find not that they will rise at 

 top, I will sink the fly even to mid-water. Before the flies are naturally in season, I will 

 go to the bushes and trees that are adjacent to the river or pond, and observe what are 

 flying near over it, or on the water, and the fly that swarms there most is in season. 

 Some open the first fish they take and look in its stomach ; but my conjecture is, that it 

 must either be partly consumed, or so discoloured that it cannot well be known ; and 

 again, fish will take such food at one time that they will not at another which they alto- 

 gether dislike ; therefore I think it is insignificant. In casting I'll do it with a little 

 circling about my head by waving the rod, or else the fly may with too smart a jerk be 

 apt to snap oft", and so I must stay a quarter of an hour it may be to get another. In 

 casting I will observe always to do it before me that it may fall on the water and no part 

 of the line shall dash to scare the fish ; and if I can without making any circling in the 

 water, I will. If the wind be high, I will let some of the line be in the water to keep 

 the fly from being blown out. I will stand if I possibly can with the sun in my face and 

 the wind to my back. In still or slow water I'll cast my fly almost across, and draw it 

 towards me gently a little way." 

 * The Temple. Sacred Poems, c. p. 80, edit 1633. 



