CHAP. I.J THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 55 



our Lord Jesus ! How may it beget and heighten the zeal of a 

 Christian, to see the devotions that are daily paid to him at 

 that place ! Gentlemen, lest I forget myself I will stop here, 

 and remember you, that, but for my element of Water, the in- 

 habitants of this poor island must remain ignorant that such 

 things ever were, or that any of them have yet a being. 



Gentlemen, I might both enlarge and lose myself in such 

 like arguments ; I might tell you that Almighty God is said to 

 have spoken to a fish, but never to a beast ; that he hath made 

 a Whale a ship to carry and set his prophet Jonah safe on the 

 appointed shore. Of these I might speak, but I must in man- 

 ners break off, for I see Theobald's house. I cry you mercy 

 for being so long, and thank you for your patience. 



AUG. Sir, my pardon is easily granted you ; I except against 

 nothing that you have said ; nevertheless, I must part with you 

 at this park- wall, for which I am very sorry ; but I assure you, 

 Mr. Piscator, I now part with you full of good thoughts, not 

 only of yourself, but your recreation. And so, Gentlemen, 

 God keep you both ! 



Pise. Well, now, Mr. Venator, you shall neither want time 

 nor my attention to hear you enlarge your discourse concern- 

 ing Hunting. 



VEN. Not I, Sir ; I remember you said that Angling itself 

 was of great antiquity, and a perfect art, and an art not easily 

 attained to ; and you have so won upon me in your former 

 discourse, that I am very desirous to hear what you can say 

 further concerning those particulars. 



Pise. Sir, I did say so, and I doubt not but if you and I did 

 converse together but a few hours, to leave you possessed with 

 the same high and happy thoughts that now possess me of it ; 

 not only of the antiquity of Angling, but that it deserves com- 

 mendations, and that it is an art, and an art worthy the knowl- 

 edge and practice of a wise man. 



VEN. Pray, Sir, speak of them what you think fit, for we 

 have yet five miles to the Thatched House, during which walk 



