1 90 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART n. 



half overcome you ; and that I may wholly conquer that modesty 

 of youn^I will take upon me to be so familiar as to say you 

 must accept my invitation, which, that you may the more easily 

 be persuaded to do, I will tell you that my house stands upon 

 the margin_of jane-of :tjiinlSfj^!^s for trout and grayling in 

 ^ngland; that I have lately built a little fishing-house upon jt, 

 dedicated to anglers, over the door of which you will see Jhe 

 two first letters of my father Walton's name and mine twisted 

 in cipher; that you shall lie in the same bed he has sometimes 

 been contented with, and have such country entertainment as 

 my friends sometimes accept, and be as welcome, too, as the 

 best friend of them all. 



VlAT. No doubt, sir, but my master Walton found good 

 reason to be satisfied with his entertainment in your house; 

 for yA wbo--arf! so 'friendly fo a mere stranger, who deserves 

 so^little, must needs be exceeding kind and free to him who 

 deserves so much. 



PiSC. Believe me, no : and such as are intimately acquainted 

 with that gentleman know him to be a man who will not endure 

 to be treated like a stranger. So that his acceptation of my 

 poor entertainment has ever been a pure effect of his own 

 humility and good-nature, and nothing else. But, sir, we are 

 now going down the Spittle Hill, into the town; and therefore 

 let me importune you suddenly to resolve, and (most earnestly) 

 not to deny me. 



VlAT. In truth, sir, I am so overcome by your bounty, that I 

 find I cannot, but must render myself wholly to be disposed of 

 by you. 



PiSC. Why, that's heartily and kindly spoken, and 1 as 

 heartily thank you. AjiQ^Jpeirig^yQU hav-e abandojied--ymu'self 

 to .my conduct^ \vejwill only call and drink a glassjjnhorseback 

 vV at the Talbot, and away. 



VlAT. I attend you. But what pretty river is this, that runs 

 under this stone bridge ? Has it a name ? 



PiSC. Yes, it is called Henmore; and has in it both trout 

 and grayling ; but you will meet with one or two better anon. 

 And so soon as we are past through the town, I will endeavour, 



