PREFATORY ADDRESS. ill 



choly and discontent than satisfaction in their thoughts ; 

 but the angler, when he hath the worst success, loseth 

 but a hook or line, or perhaps, what he never possessed, 

 a fish ; and suppose he should take nothing, yet he en- 

 joyeth a delightful walk by pleasant rivers in sweet 

 pastures, amongst odoriferous flowers, which gratify 

 his senses and delight his mind ; which contentments 

 induce many, who affect not angling, to choose those 

 places of pleasure for their Summer's recreation and 

 health. 



But, peradventure, some may alledge that this art 

 is mean, melancholy, and insipid; I suppose the old 

 answer, de gustibus non est disputandum, will hold as 

 firmly in recreations as palates, many have supposed 

 Angling void of delight, having never tried it, yet have 

 afterwards experimented it so full of content, that they 

 have quitted all other recreations, at least in its season, 

 to pursue it ; and I do pursuade myself, that whoso- 

 ever shall associate himself with some honest expert 

 angler, who will freely and candidly communicate his 

 skill unto him, will in short time be convinced, that 

 Ars non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem -, and the more 

 any experiment its harmless delight, not subject to 

 passion or expence, he will probably be induced to re- 

 linquish those pleasures which being obnoxious to 

 choler or contention so discompose the thoughts, that 

 nothing during that unsettlement can relish or delight 

 the mind ; to pursue that recreation which composeth 

 the soul to that calmness arid serenity, which gives a 

 man the fullest possession and fruition of himself and 



