THE FIRST DAY. 

 CHAPTER II. 



PlSCATOR. 



SO, Sir, now we have got to the top of the hill out of town, 

 look about you, and tell me how you like the country. 



VIAT. Bless me ! what mountains are here ! Are we not in 

 Wales ? 



Pise. No, but in almost as mountainous a country ; and yet 

 these hills, though high, bleak, and craggy, breed and feed 

 good beef and mutton above ground, and afford good store of 

 lead within. 



VIAT. They had need of all those commodities to make 

 amends for the ill landscape : but I hope our way does not lie 

 over any of these, for I dread a precipice. 



Pise. Believe me, but it does, and down one especially, that 

 will appear a little terrible to a stranger ; though the way is 

 passable enough, and so passable, that we, who are natives of 

 these mountains, and acquainted with them, disdain to alight. 



VIAT. I hope though, that a foreigner is privileged to use 

 his own discretion, and that I may have the liberty to intrust 

 my neck to the fidelity of my own feet, rather than to those of 

 my horse ; for I have no more at home. 



Pise. 'T were hard else. But in the mean time, I think 

 't were best, while this way is pretty even, to mend our pace, 

 that we may be past that hill I speak of, to the end your ap- 

 prehension may not be doubled for want of light to discern the 

 easiness of the descent. 



VIAT. I am willing to put forward as fast as my beast will 



