268 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART II. 



VIAT. Pardon me, Sir, all 's fish that comes to the hook with 

 me now. Another ! 



Pise. And of the same standing. 



VIAT. I see I shall have good sport now. Another ! and a 

 Grayling. Why, you have fish here at will. 



Pise. Come, come, cross the bridge, and go down the other 

 side, lower ; where you will find finer streams, and better sport, 

 I hope, than this. Look you, Sir, here is a fine stream now. 

 You have length enough, stand a little farther off, let me entreat 

 you ; and do but fish this stream like an artist, and peradventure 

 a good fish may fall to your share. How now ! What, is all 

 gone? 



VIAT. No, I but touched him ; but that was a fish worth 

 taking. 



Pise. Why now, let me tell you, you lost that fish by your 

 own fault, and through your own eagerness and haste ; for you 

 are never to offer to strike a good fish, if he do not strike him- 

 self, till first you see him turn his head after he has taken your 

 fly ; and then you can never strain your tackle in the striking, 

 if you strike with any manner of moderation. Come, throw in 

 once again, and fish me this stream by inches ; for I assure you 

 here are very good fish : both Trout and Grayling lie here ; and 

 at that great stone on the other side, 't is ten to one a good 

 Trout gives you the meeting. 



VIAT. I have him now, but he has gone down towards the 

 bottom. I cannot see what he is, yet he should be a good fish 

 by his weight : but he makes no great stir. 



Pise. Why then, by what you say, I dare venture to assure 

 you 't is a Grayling, who is one of the deadest -hear ted fishes in 

 the world ; and the bigger he is, the more easily taken. Look 

 you, now you see him plain ; I told you what he was. Bring 

 hither that landing-net, Boy. And now, Sir, he is your own ; 

 and believe me a good one, sixteen inches long I warrant him j 

 I have taken none such this year. 



VIAT. I never saw a Grayling before look so black. 



