THE FIRST DAY. 



CHAP. I. A Conference betwixt an ANGLER, a HUNTER, and a 

 FALCONER, each commending his Recreation. 



PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS. 



PlSCATOR. 



YOU are well overtaken, Gentlemen : a good morning to you 

 both : I have stretched my legs up Tottenham Hill to 

 overtake you, hoping your business may occasion you towards 

 Ware, whither I am going this fine, fresh May morning. 



VENATOR. Sir, I, for my part, shall almost answer your hopes ; 

 for my purpose is to drink my morning's draught at the 

 Thatched House in Hoddesden ; and I think not to rest till I 

 come thither, where I have appointed a friend or two to meet 

 me : but for this gentleman that you see with me, I know not 

 how far he intends his journey ; he came so lately into my com- 

 pany, that I have scarce had time to ask him the question. 



AUCEPS. Sir, I shall, by your favor, bear you company as 

 far as Theobald's ; and there leave you, for then I turn up to a 

 friend's house who mews a hawk for me, which I now long to 

 see. 



VEN. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, cool 

 morning, and I hope we shall each be the happier in the others' 

 company. And, Gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, I shall 

 either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it; knowing that, as 

 the Italians say, " Good company in a journey makes the way 

 to seem the shorter." 



Auc. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good discourse, 

 which, methinks, we may promise from you that both look and 

 speak so cheerfully ; and, for my part, I promise you as an in- 



