CHAP. I.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 239 



deserve much better, for being content with so ill company. 

 But we have already talked away two miles of your journey ; 

 for, from the brook before us, that runs at the foot of this 

 sandy hill, you have but three miles to Ashbourn. 



VIAT. I meet everywhere in this country with these little 

 brooks ; and they look as if they were full of fish. Have they 

 not Trouts in them ? 



Pise. That is a question which is to be excused in a stranger, 

 as you are : otherwise, give me leave to tell you, it would 

 seem a kind of affront to our country, to make a doubt of what 

 we pretend to be famous for, next, if not before, our malt, 

 wool, lead, and coal : for you are to understand, that we think 

 we have as many fine rivers, rivulets, and brooks as any country 

 whatever ; and they are all full of Trouts, and some of them 

 the best, it is said, by many degrees, in England. 



VIAT. I was first, Sir, in love with you, and now shall be so 

 enamored of your country, by this account you give me of it, as 

 to wish myself a Derbyshire man, or at least that I might live 

 in it ; for you must know I am a pretender to the Angle, and, 

 doubtless, a Trout affords the most pleasure to the Angler of 

 any sort of fish whatever ; and the best Trouts must needs make 

 the best sport : but this brook, and some others I have met 

 with upon this way, are too full of wood for that recreation. 



Pise. This, Sir ! why this, and several others like it, which 

 you have past, and some that you are like to pass, have scarce 

 any name amongst us : but we can show you as fine rivers, and 

 as clear from wood, or any other encumbrance to hinder an 

 Angler, as any you ever saw ; and for clear, beautiful streams, 

 Hantshire itself, by Mr. Izaak Walton's good leave, can show 

 none such ; nor I think any country in Europe. 



VIAT. You go far, Sir, in the praise of your country rivers, 

 and I perceive have read Mr. Walton's Complete Angler, by 

 your naming of Hantshire; and I pray what is your opinion 

 of that book ? 



PISC. My opinion of Mr. Walton's book is the same with 



