THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 27 



much more cloth it please the pious curiosity of a Christian to 

 see that place on which the blessed Saviour of the world was 

 pleased to humble himself, and to take our nature upon him, 

 and to converse with men : to see Mount Zion, Jerusalem, 

 and the very sepulchre of our Lord Jesus ? How may it beget 

 arid 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 inhabitants 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 manners break off, for I see Theobald's house. I cry your 

 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. 



YEN. 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 

 farther 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 

 commendations ; and that it is an art, and an art worthy the 

 knowledge and practice of a wise man. 



VEN. Pray, sir, speak of them what you think fit, for wo 

 have yet five miles to the Thatched House ; during which 

 walk, I dare promise you my patience and diligent attention 

 shall not be wanting. And if you shall make that to appear 

 which you have undertaken first that it is an art, and an 



