CHAPTER I. A CONFERENCE BETWIXT AN ANGLER, 

 A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER; EACH COMMENDING 

 HIS RECREATION 



PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS 



PISCATOR. You are well overtaken, Gentlemen, a good 

 morning to you both ; I have stretched my legs up 

 Tottenham-hill to overtake you, hoping your business 

 may occasion you towards Ware, whither I am going this fine, 

 fresh, May morning. 



VENATOR. Sir, I for my part shall almost answer your 

 hopes; for my purpose is to drink my morning's draught at 

 the Thatched-house in Hodsden, and I think not to rest till 

 I come thither, where I have appointed a friend or two to 

 meet me : but for this Gentleman that you see with me, I 

 know not how far he intends his journey; he came so lately 

 into my company, that I have scarce had time to ask him 

 the question. 



AUCEPS. Sir, I shall by your favour bear you company as 

 far as Theobald's ; and there leave you, for then I turn up to a 

 friend's house who mews a Hawk for me, which I now long 

 to see. 



VEN. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, 

 cool morning, and I hope we shall each be the happier in the 

 other's company. And, Gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, 

 I shall either abate, or amend my pace to enjoy it; knowing 

 that, as the Italians say, 'Good company in a journey makes 

 the way to seem the shorter.* 



Auc. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good discourse, 

 which methinks we may promise from you that both look and 

 speak so cheerfully: and for my part I promise you, as an 

 invitation to it, that I will be as free and open-hearted, as 

 discretion will allow me to be with strangers. 



