22 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



upon him, and to converse with men : to see Mount Sion, Jeru- 

 salem, and the very sepulchre of our Lord Jesus ? How may it 

 beget and heighten the zeal of a Christian, to see the devotions 

 that are daily paid to him at that place ? Gentlemen, lest I for- 

 get myself 1 will stop here, and remember you, that but for my 

 element of water, the inhabitants of this poor island must remain 

 itrnorant that such things ever were, or that any of them have 

 yet a being. 



Gentlemen, I might both enlarge and lose myself in such like 

 arguments ; I might tell you that Almighty God is said to have 

 spoken to a fish, but never to a beast ; that he hath made a 

 whale a ship to carry and set his prophet Jonah safe on the 

 appointed shore. Of these I might speak, but I must in man- 

 ners break off, for I see Theobald's house. I cry you mercy for 

 being so long, and thank you for your patience. 



Aug. Sir, my pardon is easily granted you : I except against 

 nothing that you have said ; nevertheless I must part with you at 

 this park-wall, for which I am very sorry ; but I assure you, 

 Mr. Piscator, I now part with you full of good thoughts, not only 

 of yourself, but your recreation. And so, Gentlemen, God keep 

 you both. 



Pisc. Well, now, Mr. Venator, you shall neither want time nor 

 my attention to hear you enlarge your discourse concerning 



hunting. 



Ven. Not I, Sir, I remember you said that angling itself was 

 of great antiquity, and a perfect art, and an art not easily attained 

 to ; and you have so won upon me in your former discourse, that 

 I am very desirous to hear what you can say further concerning 

 those particulars. 



Pisc. Sir, I did say so, and I doubt not but if you and I did 

 converse together but a few hours, to leave you possessed with 

 the same high and happy thoughts that now possess me of it ; 

 not only of the antiquity of angling, but that it deserves com- 

 mendations, and that it is an art, and an art worthy the know- 

 ledge and practice of a wise man. 



Ven. Pray, Sir, speak of them what you think fit, for we 

 have yet five miles to the Thatched-house, during which walk, I 

 dare promise you, my patience and diligent attention shall not 



