1 86 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART n. 



of the soil, according to the proverb, " Thereis good land where 

 there is foul way ; " and is of good use to inform you of the riches 

 oTfhecountry you are come into, and of its continual travel and 

 traffic to the country town you came from : which is also very 

 observable by the fulness of its road, and the loaden horses you 

 meet everywhere upon the way. 



VIAT. Well, sir, I will be content to think as well of your 

 country as you would desire ; and I shall have a great deal of 

 reason both to think and to speak very well of you, if I may 

 obtain the happiness of your company to the fore-mentioned 

 place, provided your affairs lead you that way, and that they will 

 permit you to slack your pace, out of complacency to a traveller 

 utterly a stranger in these parts, and who am still to wander 

 further out of my own knowledge. 



PiSC. Sir, you invite me to my own advantage, and I am 

 ready to attend you, my way lying through that town; but 

 my business, that is, my home, some miles beyond it: how- 

 ever, I shall have time enough to lodge you in your quarters, 

 and afterward to perform my own journey. In the mean- 

 time, may I be so bold as to inquire the end of your 

 journey ? 



VIAT. ? Tis_jnto Lancashire, sir; and about some business^of 

 concern to a near relation of mine ; for I assure you, I do notjise 

 to take such long journeys as from Essex upon the single account 

 of pleasure. 



~~~PiSC. From thence, sir ! I do not then wonder you should 

 appear dissatisfied with the length of the miles, and the foulness 

 of the way : though I am sorry you should begin to quarrel with 

 them so soon; for, believe me, sir, you will find the miles much 

 longer, and the way much worse, before you come to your 

 journey's end. 



VlAT. Why ! truly, sir ! for that I am prepared to expect the 

 worst ; but methinks the way is mended since I had the good 

 fortune to fall into your good company. 



PiSC. You are not obliged to my company for that, but 

 because you are already past the worst, and the greatest part 

 of your way to your lodging. 



