^ 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



ViAT. It may be so ; and good land, I confess, affords a plea- 

 sant prospect : but, by your good leave, Sir, large measure of 

 foul way is not altogether so acceptable. 



Pisc. 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 traffic to the country town you came from ; which is 

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

 horses you meet everywhere upon the way. 



ViAT. Well, Sir, I will be content to think as well of your 

 country as you would desire ; and 1 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 forementioned 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. 



Pisc. 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, I 

 shall have time enough to lodge you in your quarters, and after- 

 wards to perform my own journey. In the meantime, may I be 

 so bold as to inquire the end of your journey ? 



ViAT. It is into Lancashire, Sir, and about some business of 

 concern to a near relation of mine : for, I assure you, I do not 

 use to take so long journeys, as from Essex, upon the single ac- 

 count of pleasure. 



Pisc From thence. Sir, I do not then wonder you should ap- 

 pear dissatisfied with the length of the miles and the foulness 

 of the way ; though I am sorry you should begin to quarrel with 

 them so soon ; for, believe me. Sir, you will find the miles much 

 longer, and the way much worse, before you come to your jour- 

 ney's end. 



ViAT. Wliy truly, Sir, for that I am prepared to expect the 

 worst ; but, mctliinks, the way is mended since I had the good 

 fortune to fall into your good company. 



Pisc. You are not obliged to my company for that, but because 



