10 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



that discourse, or time, or prejudice, have possessed you with 

 against that laudable and ancient art ; for 1 know it is worthy 

 the knowledge and practice of a wise man. 



But, gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I am not so un- 

 mannerly as to engross all the discourse to myself; and there- 

 fore, you two having declared yourselves, the one to be a lover 

 of hawks, the other of hounds, I shall be most glad to hear what 

 you can say in the commendation of that recreation which each 

 of you love and practise ; and having heard what you can say, 

 I shall be glad to exercise your attention with what I can say 

 concerning my own recreation and art of angling, and by this 

 means we shall make the way to seem the shorter : and if you 

 like my motion, I would have Mr. Falconer to begin.* 



Viat. Why (Sir) is Angling of Antiquitie, and an Art, and an 

 art not easily learn'd ? 



Pis. Yes (Sir :) and I doubt not but that if you and I were to 

 converse together but til night, I should leave you possess'd with 

 the same happie thoughts that now possess me ; not onely for the 

 Antiquitie of it, but that it deserves commendations ; and that 

 'tis an Art ; and worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise, 

 and a serious man. 



Viat. Sir, I pray speak of them what you shall think fit ; for 

 wee have yet five miles to walk before we shall come to the 

 Thatcht house. And, Sir, though my infirmities are many, yet I 

 dare promise you, that both my patience and attention will in- 

 dure to hear what you will say till wee come thither : and if you 

 please to begin in order with the antiquity, when that is done, 

 you shall not want my attention to the commendations and accom- 

 modations of it : and lastly, if you shall convince me that 'tis an 

 Art, and an Art worth learning, I shall beg I may become your 

 Scholar, both to wait upon you, and to be instructed in the Art it- 

 self. 



* From the change in the plan of the dialogue, the insertions and 

 transpositions are so numerous, that it is not possible, except in special 

 instances, to mark the variations satisfactorily, without burdening the 

 page. — Am. Ed. 



