A CONFERENCE BETWIXT 



VEN. And, Sir, I promise the like. 



Pise. I am right glad to hear your answers, and in 

 confidence you speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to ask 

 you, Sir, whether business or pleasure caused you to be so 

 early up, and walk so fast, for this other Gentleman hath 

 declared he is going to see a hawk, that a friend mews for him. 



VEN. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and 

 more pleasure, for I intend this day to do all my business, and 

 then bestow another day or two in hunting the Otter, which a 

 friend that I go to meet, tells me, is much pleasanter than any 

 other chase whatsoever: howsoever I mean to try it; for to- 

 morrow morning we shall meet a pack of Otter-dogs of noble 

 Mr. Sadler's, upon Amwell-hill, who will be there so early, that 

 they intend to prevent the Sun rising. 



Pise. Sir, my fortune has answered my desires, and my 

 purpose is to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some 

 of those villainous vermin, for I hate them perfectly, because 

 they love fish so well, or rather, because they destroy so much ; 

 indeed so much, that in my judgment all men that keep Otter- 

 dogs ought to have pensions from the King to encourage them 

 to destroy the very breed of those base Otters, they do so much 

 mischief. 



VEN. But what say you to the Foxes of the Nation, would 

 not you as willingly have them destroyed? for doubtless they 

 do as much mischief as Otters do. 



Pise. Oh Sir, if they do, it is not so much to me and my 

 fraternity as those base vermin the Otters do. 



Auc. Why, Sir, I pray, of what fraternity are you, that you 

 are so angry with the poor Otters? 



Pise. I am, Sir, a brother of the Angle, and therefore an 

 enemy to the Otter: for you are to note, that we Anglers all 

 love one another, and therefore do I hate the Otter, both for 

 my own and for their sakes who are of my brotherhood. 



VEN. And I am a lover of Hounds ; I have followed many 

 a pack of dogs many a mile, and heard many merry huntsmen 

 make sport and scoff at Anglers. 



Auc. And I profess myself a Falconer, and have heard many 

 grave, serious men pity them, 'tis such a heavy, contemptible, 

 dull recreation. 



