The Incompleat Angler. 43 



arm he contrives to lay hold ot with 



his teeth, the firmer grasp will you 



have of him when the moment lor 



drawing him forth from his native 



element arrives, and the surer will be 



his taking. Nay, Scholar^ you cannot iValtonian 



be in pain, for the beetle, as I have told ^PP^'^^'-^'^'^^' 



you, suffers not in the least, either 



when he conceitedly writhes on the 



hook, or when he is taken by the hsh. 



'59'enatOt\ But O, Master^ if he 

 remain as he now is, will not this 

 Pike that hath hold of me die ? O ! 



^itSiCatOt% I will tell you. Scholar^ 

 that unless the hook be fast in his 

 very gorge, 'tis more than probable 

 he will live : and a little time, with 

 the help of the water, will rust the 

 hook, and so it will gently wear away. 

 And now, while he hath hold of you 



thus 



