The Compleat ^Angler 



expectation of Sir Henry, which, with the help of this and other 

 circumstances, makes me have little belief in such things as many 

 men talk of : not but that I think fishes both smell and hear (as I 

 have expressed in my former discourse) ; but there is a mysterious 

 knack, which, though it be much easier than the philosopher's 

 stone, yet it is not attainable by common capacities, or else lies 

 locked up in the brain or breast of some chymical man, that, like 

 the Rosicrucians, will not yet reveal it. But let me nevertheless tell 

 you, that camphor, put with moss into your worm-bag with your 

 worms, makes them (if many anglers be not very much mistaken) a 

 tempting bait, and the angler more fortunate. But I stepped by 

 chance into this discourse of oils and fishes smelling ; and though 

 there might be more said, both of it and of baits for roach and dace 

 and other float fish, yet I will forbear it at this time, and tell you in 

 the next place how you are to prepare your tackling ; concerning 

 which I will, for sport's sake, give you an old rhyme out of an old 

 fish-book, which will prove a part, and but a part, of what you are 

 to provide. 



My rod and my line, my float and my lead, 



My hook and my plummet, my whetstone and knife, 



My basket, my baits both living and dead, 

 My net, and my meat, for that is the chief: 



Then I must have thread, and hairs green and small, 



With mine angling-purse and so you have all. 



But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many more, 

 with which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store yourself; and 

 to that purpose I will go with you either to Mr. Margrave, who 

 dwells amongst the booksellers in St. Paul's Churchyard, or to Mr. 

 John Stubs, near to the Swan in Golden Lane ; they be both honest 

 men, and will fit an angler with what tackling he lacks. 



VEN. Then, good master, let it be at , for he is nearest to 



my dwelling ; and I pray let us meet there the ninth of May next, 

 about two of the clock, and I'll want nothing that a fisher should 

 be furnished with. 



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