THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



anglers ; let me tell you. Sir, there be many men that are by 

 others taken to be serious and grave men, whom we contemn and 

 pity. Men that are taken to be grave, because nature hath 

 made them of a sour complexion, money-getting men, men that 

 spend all their time first in getting, and next in anxious care to 

 keep it ; men that arc condemned to be rich, and then always 

 busy or discontented ; for these poor, rich men, we anglers pity 

 them perfectly, and stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to 

 think ourselves so happy. No, no. Sir, we enjoy a contented- 

 ness above the reach of such dispositions, and as the learned and 

 ingenuous Montaigne says like himself freely,* " When my cat 

 and I entertain each other with mutual apish tricks, as playing 

 with a garter, who knows but that I make my cat more sport 

 than she makes me ? Sliall I conclude her to be simple, that has 

 her time to begin or refuse to play as freely as I myself have ? 

 Nav, who knows but that it is a defect of mv not understandin!r 

 her lanCTuase (for doubtless cats talk and reason with one 

 another) that we agree no better ? and who knows but that she 



in such a Case. Whe7i my Cat and I entertaiup. each oilier with 

 muiuall apish tricks {as playing with a garter,) who knows hut that 

 I make her more sport then she makes 7ne ? Shall I conclude her 

 simple, that has her time to begin or refuse sportiveness as freely as 

 I myself have ? Nay, who knoics hut that our agreeing no better^ 

 is the defect of my not understanding her language ? {for doubt- 

 lesse Cats talk and reason with one another) and that shee laughs at, 

 and censures my folly, for making her sport, and pities mee for 



* The passage referred to is in Montaigne's apology for Raimonde de 

 Sebonde, IL, 12. The translation Walton used was that of Florio ; but 

 the passage as given here is greatly enlarged and paraphrased. In Florio 

 we read only : " When I am playing with my cat, who knows whether 

 she have more sport in dallying with me, than I have in gaming with hir ? 

 We entertaine one another with mutuall apish tricks. If I have my 

 houre to begin or refuse, so hath she hirs." Then follow some observa- 

 tions on conversing with brutes. Walton throughout the Angler cites 

 carelessly, and does not scruple to make his author speak as he chooses. 



John Florio's parents were fugitive Waldenses, who fled from persecu- 

 tion to London. He taught Italian and French at Oxford, and also to Anne 

 of Denmark and the Prince Henry. — im,. Ed. 



