CHAP. i. THE FIRST DAY. 187 



VIAT. I am very glad to hear it, both for the ease of myself 

 and my horse; but especially, because I may then expect a 

 freer enjoyment of your conversation : though the shortness of 

 the way will, I fear, make me lose it the sooner. 



PiSC. That, sir, is not worth your care : and I am sure you 

 deserve muc'i better for being content with so ill company. 

 But we have already talked away two miles of your journey ; 

 for, from the brook before us, that runs at the foot of this sandy 

 hill, you have but three miles to Ashborn. 



VIAT. I meet, everywhere in this country, with these little 

 brooks; and they look as if they were full of fish: have they 

 not trouts in them? 



PiSC. That is a question which is to be excused in a stranger, 

 as you are : otherwise, give me leave to tell you, it would seem 

 a kind of affront to our country, to make a doubt of what we 

 pretend to be famous foiynext^ if not before, our malt, wool, 

 lead, and c^ajjj^oj^y^u^are_to understand, that we think we 

 have as many_^ne_jrivers, rivulets^._and brook ;s^ as any country 

 whatever; and they are all full of trouts, and some of them the 

 best, it is said, by many degrees, in England. 



VIAT. I was first, sir, in love with you ; and now shall be so 

 enamoured of your country by this account you give me of it, 

 as to wish myself a Derbyshire man T or at least that I migh t 

 live in it : for you must know I am a pretender to the angle, 

 and, doubtless, a trout affords the most pleasure to the angler 

 of any sort of fish whatever; and the best trouts must needs 

 make the best sport; but this brook, and some others I have 

 met with upon this way, are too full of wood for that recreation. 



PiSC. This, sir ! why this, and several others like it, which 

 you have passed, and some that you are like to pass, have 

 scarce any name amongst us; but we can show you as fine 

 rivers, and as clear from wood, or any other incumbrance to 

 hinder an angler, as any you ever saw; and for clear, beautiful 

 streams, Hantshire itself, by Mr. Izaak Walton's good leave, 

 can show none such ; nor I think any country in Europe. 



VIAT. You go far, sir, in the praise of your country rivers, 

 and I perceive have read Mr. Walton's Compte'e Angler^ by 



