378 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART II. 



a stranger in these parts, I shall take upon me to in- 

 form you, that from the town you last came through, 

 called Brelsford *, it is five miles: and you are not, yet, 

 above half a mile on this side. 



Viat. So much ! I was told it was but ten miles 

 from Derby; and, methinks, I have rode almost so far 

 already. 



Pise. O, Sir, find no fault with large measure of 

 good land; which Derbyshire abounds in, as much as 

 most counties of England, 



Viat. It may be so; and. good land, I confess, 

 affords a pleasant prospect : but by your good leave, 

 Sir, large measure of foul way is not altogether so ac 

 ceptable. 



Pise. True, Sir, but the foul way serves to justify 

 the fertility of the soil, according to the proverb, 

 " There is good land where there is foul way :" and 

 is of good use, to inform you of the riches of the country 

 you are come into, and of its continual travel and 

 traffick to the country-town you came from ; which is 

 also very observable by the fulness of its road, and the 

 loaden horses you meet every-where upon the way. 



Viat. Well, Sir! I will be content to think as well 

 of your country as you would desire. And I shall 

 have a great deal of reason both to think, and to speak, 

 very well of you, -if I may obtain the happiness of 

 your company to the fore-mentioned place, provided 

 your affairs lead you that way, and that they will per- 

 mit you to slack your pace, out of complacency to a 

 traveller utterly a stranger in these parts, and who am 

 still to wander further out of my own knowledge. 



Pise. Sir, you invite me to my own advantage. 

 And I am ready to attend you, my way lying through 

 that town ; but my business, that is my home, some 

 miles beyond it : however, 1 shall have time enough 

 to lodge you in your quarters, and afterwards to per- 

 form my own journey. In the mean time, may I be so 

 bold as to enquire the end of your journey ? 



Viat. "Tis into Lancashire, Sir, and about some 

 business of concern to a near relation of mine : for I 



* Brale8 r ord. Spehnan's Vi 



