244 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Pise. O sir, find 110 fault with large measure of good land, 

 which Derbyshire abounds in, as much as most counties of 

 England. 



VIAT. It may be so ; and good land, I confess, affords a 

 pleasant prospect : but, by your good leave, sir, large measure 

 of foul way is not altogether so acceptable. 



Pise. True, sir ; but the foul way serves to justify the 

 fertility of the soil, according to the proverb, "There is good 

 land where there is foul way ;" and is of good use to inform 

 you of the riches of the country you are come into, and of 

 its continual travel and traffic to the country town you came 

 from : which is also very observable by the fulness of its 

 road, and the loaden horses you meet everywhere upon the 

 way. 



^ ^ IAT. Well, sir, I will be content to think as well of your 

 country as you would desire ; and I shall have a great deal of 

 reason both to think and to speak very well of you, if I may 

 obtain the happiness of your company to the fore-mentioned 

 place, provided your affairs lead you that way, and that they 

 will permit you to slack your pace, out of complacency to a 

 traveller utterly a stranger in these parts, and who am still to 

 wander further out of my own knowledge. 



Pise. Sir, you invite me to my own advantage, and I am 

 ready to attend you, my way lying through that town; but 

 my business, that is, my home, some miles beyond it : how- 

 ever, I shall have time enough to lodge you in your quarters, 

 and afterward to perform my own journey. In the mean 

 time, may I be so bold as to inquire the end of your 

 journey 1 



VIAT. 'Tis into Lancashire, sir ; and about some business 

 of concern to a near relation of mine ; for I assure you, I do 

 not use to take such long journeys as from Essex upon the 

 single account of pleasure. 



Pise. From thence, sir! I do not then wonder you should 

 appear dissatisfied with the length of the miles, and the 

 foulness of the way : though I am sorry you should begin to 

 quarrel with them so soon ; for, believe me, sir, you will find 

 the miles much longer, and the way much worse, before you 

 come to your journey's end. 



YIAT. Why ! truly, sir ! for that I am prepared to expect 

 the worst ; but methinks the way is mended since I had the 

 good fortune to fall into your good company. 



Pise. You are not obliged to my company for that, but 



