The Compleat ^Angler 



contemptible as they seem here) that are very hard to be got ; and 

 scarce any one of them which, if it should be lost, I should not miss, 

 and be concerned about the loss of it too, once in the year. But look 

 you, sir, amongst all these I will choose out these two colours only, 

 of which this is bear's hair, this darker, no great matter what ; but I 

 am sure I have killed a great deal of fish with it ; and with one or 

 both of these you shall take trout or grayling this very day, notwith- 

 standing all disadvantages, or my art shall fail me. 



VIAT. You promise comfortably, and I have a great deal of reason 

 to believe everything you say ; but I wish the fly were made that we 

 were at it. 



Pise. That will not be long in doing : and pray observe then. 

 You see first how I hold my hook, and thus I begin. Look you, 

 here are my first two or three whips about the bare hook ; thus I 

 join hook and line ; thus I put on my wings ; thus I twirl and lap 

 on my dubbing ; thus I work it up towards the head ; thus I part 

 my wings ; thus I nip my superfluous dubbing from my silk ; thus 

 fasten ; thus trim and adjust my fly ; and there's a fly made ; and 

 now how do you like it ? 



VIAT. In earnest, admirably well, and it resembles a fly : but we 

 about London make the bodies of our flies both much bigger 

 and longer, so long as even almost to the very beard of the 

 hook. 



Pise. I know it very well, and had one of those flies given me by 

 an honest gentleman, who came with my father Walton to give me 

 a visit ; which (to tell you the truth) I hung in my parlour window 

 to laugh at : but, sir, you know the proverb, " Those who go to 

 Rome must do as they at Rome do ; " and believe me, you must 

 here make your flies after this fashion, or you will take no fish. 

 Come, I will look you out a line, and you shall put it on, and try it. 

 There, sir, I think you are fitted ; and now beyond the further end 

 of the walk you shall begin : I see, at that bend of the water above, 

 the air crisps the water a little : knit your line first here, and then 

 go up thither, and see what you can do. 



VIAT. Did you see that, sir ? 



Pise. Yes, I saw the fish : and he saw you too, which made him 



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