The Compleat ^Angler 



humble himself, and to take our nature upon him, and to converse 

 with men : to see Mount Zion, Jerusalem, 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 forget myself I will stop here and remember you, 

 that but for my element of water, the inhabitants of this poor island 

 must remain ignorant 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 manners break off, for I see 

 Theobald's house. I cry your mercy for being so long, and thank 

 you for your patience. 



Auc. 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. 



Pise. 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 farther concerning 

 those particulars. 



Pise. 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 commendations ; 

 and that it is an art, and an art worthy the knowledge 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 



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