22 THE AXGLER AXD HUNTSMAN 



And this seems also to be intimated by the Children of 

 Israel (Psalm cxxxvii.), who having in a sad condition 

 banished all mirth and music from their pensive hearts, 

 and having hung up their then mute harps upon the willow - 

 trees growing by the rivers of Babylon, sat down upon these 

 banks, bemoaning the ruins of Sion, and contemplating 

 their own sad condition. 



And an ingenious Spaniard says that "rivers and the 

 inhabitants of the watery element were made for wise men 

 to contemplate, and fools to pass by without considera- 

 tion." And though I will not rank myself in the number 

 of the first, yet give me leave to free myself from the last, 

 by offering to you a short contemplation, first of rivers and 

 then of fish; concerning which I doubt not but to give you 

 many observations that will appear very considerable; I 

 am sure they have appeared so to me, and made many an 

 hour to pass away more pleasantly, as I have sat quietly on 

 a flowery bank by a calm river. 



Piscator And now you shall see me try my skill to 

 catch a trout and at my next walking, either this evening 

 or tomorrow morning, I will give you direction how you 

 yourself shall fish for him. 



Venator Trust me, master, I see now it is a harder 

 matter to catch a trout than a chub, for I have put on pa- 

 tience and followed you these two hours, and not seen a 

 fish stir, neither at your minnow nor your worm. 



Piscator Well, scholar, you must endure worse luck 

 some time, or you will never make a good angler. But 

 what say you now? There is a trout now, and a good one 

 too, if I can but hold him, and two or three turns more will 

 tire him. Now you see he lies still, and the sleight is to 

 land him. Reach me that landing net; so, sir, now he is 

 mine own. What say you now? is not this worth all my 

 labor and your patience? 



Venator On my word, Master, this is a gallant trout; 

 what shall we do with him? 



