'242 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART IL 



But of that hereafter: and now, Sir, if I am not mistaken, I 

 have half overcome you ; and that I may wholly conquer that 

 modesty of yours, I will take upon me to be so familiar as to 

 say, you must accept my invitation ; which, that you may the 

 more easily be persuaded to do, I will tell you that my house 

 stands upon the margin of one of the finest rivers for Trouts 

 and Grayling in England ; that I have lately built a little fish- 

 ing-house upon it, dedicated to Anglers, over the door of which 

 you will see the two first letters of my Father Walton's name 

 and mine, twisted in cipher ; * that you shall lie in the same 

 bed he has sometimes been contented with, and have such 

 country entertainment as my friends sometimes accept ; and be 

 as welcome, too, as the best friend of them all. 



VIAT. No doubt, Sir, but my Master Walton found good 

 reason to be satisfied with his entertainment in your house ; for 

 you, who are so friendly to a mere stranger, who deserves so 

 little, must needs be exceeding kind and free to him who 

 deserves so much. 



Pise. Believe me, no : and such as are intimately acquainted 

 with that gentleman know him to be a man who will not en- 

 dure to be treated like a stranger. So that his acceptation of 

 my poor entertainments has ever been a pure effect of his own 

 humility and good nature, and nothing else. But, Sir, we are 

 now going down the.Spittle Hill into the town ; and therefore 

 let me importune you suddenly to resolve, and most earnestly 

 not to deny me. 



VIAT. In truth, Sir, I am so overcome by your bounty, that 

 I find I cannot ; but must render myself wholly to be disposed 

 by you. 



Pise. Why that 's heartily and kindly spoken, and I as heart- 

 ily thank you : and, being you have abandoned yourself to my 

 conduct, we will only call and drink a glass on horseback at 

 the Talbot, and away. 



I ..:'.!,' 



* As in the title-page. 



