CHAP. I.] 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



VEN. And I am a lover of hounds ; I have followed many a 

 pack of dogs many a mile, and heard many merry huntsmen 

 make sport and scoff at Anglers. 



Auc. And I profess myself a Falconer, and have heard many 

 grave, serious men pity them, 't is such a heavy, contemptible, 

 dull recreation. 



Pise. You know, Gentlemen, 't is an easy thing to scoff at 

 any art or recreation : a little wit, mixed with ill-nature, con- 

 fidence, and malice, will do it ; but though they often venture 

 boldly, yet they are often caught, even in their own trap, ac- 

 cording to that of Lucian, the father of the family of scoffers. 



" Lucian, well skilled in scoffing, this hath writ : 

 Friend, that's your folly which you think your wit : 

 This you vent oft, void both of wit and fear, 

 Meaning another, when yourself you jeer." 



If to this you add what Solomon says of scoffers, that " they 

 are an abomination to mankind," (Prov. xxiv. 9,) let him that 

 thinks fit scoff on, and be a scoffer still ; but I account them 

 enemies to me, and to all that love virtue and Angling. 



And for you that have heard many grave, serious men pity 

 Anglers, let me tell you, Sir, there be many men that are by 

 others taken to be serious and grave men, which we contemn 

 and pity. Men that are taken to be grave, because nature hath 

 made them of a sour complexion, money-getting men, men that 

 spend all their time, first in getting, and next in anxious care 

 to keep it ; men that are condemned to be rich, and then al- 

 ways busy or discontented : for these poor-rich-men,. we Anglers 

 pity them perfectly, and stand in no need to borrow their 

 thoughts to think ourselves so happy. No, no, Sir, we enjoy a 

 contentedness above the reach of such dispositions, and as the 

 learned and ingenious Montaigne says like himself freely, 

 11 When my cat and I entertain each other with mutual apish 

 tricks, as playing with a garter, who knows but that I make my 

 cat more sport than she makes me ? Shall I conclude her to be 



