CHAP. vi. THE SECOND DAY. 213 



VIAT. This is a fine stream indeed: there's one! I have 

 him. 



PiSC. And a precious catch you have of him : pull him out ! 

 I see you have a tender hand : this is a diminutive gentleman, 

 e'en throw him in again, and let him grow till he be more worthy 

 your anger. 



VlAT. Pardon me, sir, all's fish that comes to thejioolcjyith 

 me now. Another. 



PiSC. And of the same standing. 



VIAT. I see I shall have good sport now : another ! and a 

 grayling. Why, you have fish here at will. 



PiSC. Come, come, cross the bridge, and go down the other 

 side lower, where you will find finer streams and better sport, I 

 hope, than this. Look you, sir, here is a fine stream now, you 

 have length enough, stand a little further off, let me entreat you, 

 and do but fish this stream like an artist, and peradventure a 

 good fish may fall to your share. How now 1 what ! is all gone ? 



VlAT. No, but I touched him; but that was a fish worth 

 taking. 



PiSC. Why now, let me tell you you lost that fish by your own 

 fault, and through your own eagerness and haste ; for you are 

 never to offer to strike a good fish, if he do not strike himself, 

 till you first see him turn his head after he has taken your fly, 

 and then you can never strain your tackle in the striking, if you 

 strike with any manner of moderation. Come, throw in once 

 again, and fish me this stream by inches ; for I assure you here 

 are very good fish ; both trout and grayling lie here ; and at that 

 great stone on the other side, it is ten to one a good trout gives 

 you the meeting. 



VIAT. I have him now, but he is gone down towards the 

 bottom : I cannot see what he is, yet he should be a good fish 

 by his weight ; but he makes no great stir. 



PiSC. Why then, by what you say, I dare venture to assure 

 you it is a grayling, who is one of the deadest-hearted fishes in 

 the world, and the bigger he is, the more easily taken. Look 

 you, now you see him plain ; I told you what he was : bring 

 hither that landing-net, boy: and now, sir, he is your own; and 



