43 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



PART i. 



cormorant, the bittern, the osprey, the sea-gull, the heron, the 

 king-fisher, the gorara, the puet, the swan, goose, ducks, ajid 

 the craber, which some call the water-rat: against all which 

 any honest man might make a just quarrel, but I wilt not, I 

 will leave them to be quarrelled with, and killed by others; for 



ffam not of a cruel nature, I love to kill nothing but fish. 



* - ' ^ -. ^^B i ^Tr^" 8 *****" : ' - ^"f^ 1 **^- - 



And rmw to your question concerning your Jhpst rtpspeak 



trnly_ L _hj3^fn-pi Jn iny^p^od companion; for most of hTs 

 conceits were either Scripture-jests ? or lascivious jests., for which 

 L count no man witty, for the devil will help n. man tbflt way 

 \ incljned^ to thq_first; and his own corrupt nature, which he 

 always carries with him, to the latter ; but a. companion that 

 fe_a.stsL-the cojnpany with wit and mirth t and leaves out the sin. 

 which is jasuajly mixed with them ? he, is the man ; and indeed 

 such a man should have his charges borne, and to such com- 

 pany I hope to bring you this night ; for at TrmrLHall, not far 

 from this place, where I purpose to lodge to-night, there is 

 usually an angler that proves good company : and let me tell 

 you, good company and good discourse are the very sinews of 

 virtue: but for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects 

 others ; the^^erv boys, will Ip^irn t^ tnll" nnrl c " r ^frc they 

 4iard mi"^ hnsfj -i 1 1 ll (' (In ipni| that shall be 



nameless ; I am sorry the othe is a gentleman : formless 



will be required at the last great day. Well ! you know what 

 example is able to do ; andTknow what the poet says in the like 

 case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people 

 of civility : 



"... many a one 

 Owes to his country his religion ; 

 And in another would as strongly grow, 

 Had but his nurse or mother taught him ?o " 



This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consideration 

 of a wise man. But of this no more; for though I love civility, 

 yet I hate severe censures. I'll to my own art ; and I doubt 

 not but at yonder tree I shall catch a chub: and then we'll 



