J02 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



it not an art to deceive a Trout with an artificial Fly ? 

 n Trout ! that is more sharp-sighted than any Hawk 

 you have named, and more watchful and timorous 

 than your high-mettled Merlin is bold * ? and yet, I 

 doubt not to catch a brace or two to-morrow, for a 

 friend's breakfast : doubt not, therefore, Sir, but that 

 angling is an art, and an art worth your learning. The 

 question is rather, whether you be capable of learning 

 it ? for angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to be 

 born so : In""" with inclinations to it, though both 

 may be h/' ...eried by discourse and practice ; but he 

 that hopes to be a good angler, must not only bring an 

 inquiring, searching, observing wit, but he must bring 

 a large measure of hope and patience, and a love and 

 propensity to the art itself t ; but having once got and 

 practised it, then doubt not but angling will prove to 

 be so pleasant, that it will prove to be, like virtue, a 

 reward to itself 



* This is a mistake: it was Auceps and not Venator ; that named the 

 Hawks : and Auceps had before taken his leave of these his companions. 



f Markham, in his Country Contentments, has a whole chapter on the 

 Subject of the Angler's Apparel, and iniuard qualities ; some of whioix are, 

 * That he be a general scholar, and seen in all the liberal sciences ; as a 

 " grammarian, to know how to write, or discourse, of his art in true 

 " and fitting terms. He should," says he, t: have sweetness of speech, to 

 " entice others to delight in an exercise so much laudable. He should 

 *' have strength of argument, to defend and maintain his profession against 

 V envy and slander." Thou seest, reader, how easily the author has 

 dispatched Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic, three of the liberal sciences; 

 and his reasons are not a whit less convincing, with respect to the other 

 four. 



A man would think, now, that with proper baits, good tackle in his 

 pannier, and so much science in his head, our angler would stand a pretty 

 good chance to catch fish ; but, alas! those are little to the purpose, without 

 the Christian virtues of faith, hope and charity ; and unless two at least of 

 the cardinal virtues can be persuaded to go a-fishing, the angler may as well 

 stay at home : for hear what Mr. Markham says as to fortitude ; " Then 



must he be strong and -valiant; neither to be amazed with storms, nor 



affrighted with thunder: and if he is not temperate, but has a gnawing 



stomach, that will not endure much fasting, but must observe hours ; 



ii troubleth the mind and body, and loseth that delight which maketh 

 ' the pastime only pleasing." 



There Is no doubt but Walton had this chapter of Markham in his 

 eye ; and as there is a humorous solemnity in thus attempting to dig- 

 nify an art, which surely borrows as little of its perfection from learning 

 as any that is practised, it was thought it might divert the reader to 

 quote it. 



