THE RIVER. 321 



"O yes I am," said the Parson. , "My 

 principle is — Fish, si possis rectd, si non 

 quocunque modo Fish. But could you not 

 manage it rectS on such a beautiful day as 

 this?" 



" Why, I did catch this grawl, and I lost 

 a fine fish besides at the Tail of the Island ; 

 but when I came to this throw, which I had 

 reckoned most upon, the obstinate brutes 

 would keep rising at everything except my 



* Ay, ay," said the Parson, "not a very 

 uncommon case. 



* The throuts and the salmons 

 Keep playing their backgammons, 

 But when I do go to catch them they immagently 

 swim away/ 



But you have broken your rod, I see." 



" Yes," said the Scholar, " one is obliged 

 to strike so hard. I lost the first fish, 

 merely bringing away some two or three 

 scales, and I was determined not to lose the 

 next for want of striking." 



" An English rod would have stood that," 

 said the Parson, "but these Irish things 

 always go at the third joint. I wonder you 

 did not lose your fish." 



