SALMONIA. [FIRST DAY. 



HAL. I ought to know, as it was this morning in 

 the waters of the Wandle, not ten miles from the 

 place where we sit, and it is tlirough my means that 

 you see it at table. 



PHYS. Of your own catching ? 



HAL. Yes, with the artificial fly. 



PHYS. I admire the fish, but I cannot admire the 

 art by which it was taken ; and I wonder how a man 

 of your active mind and enthusiastic character can 

 enjoy what appears to me a stupid and melancholy 

 occupation. 



HAL. I might as well wonder in my turn, that a 

 man of your discursive imagination and disposition to 

 contemplate should not admire this occupation, and 

 that you should venture to call it either stupid or 

 melancholy. 



PHYS. I have at least the authority of a great 

 moralist, Johnson, for its folly. 



HAL. I will allow no man, however great a philo- 

 sopher, or moralist, to abuse an occupation he has not 

 tried ; and as well as I remember, this same illustrious 

 person praised the book and the character of the great 

 Patriarch of Anglers, Isaac Walton. 



PHYS. There is another celebrated man, however, 

 who has abused this your patriarch, Lord Byron, 

 and that in terms not very qualified. He calls him, 

 as well as I can recollect, "a quaint old cruel cox- 



