THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 245 



because you are already past the worst, and the greatest part 

 of your way to your lodging. 



VIAT. I am very glad to hear it, both for the ease of myself 

 and my horse ; but especially, because I may then expect a 

 freer enjoyment of your conversation : though the shortness 

 of the way will, I fear, make me lose it the sooner. 



Pise. That, sir, is not worth your care : and I am sure you 

 deserve much better for being content with so ill company. 

 But we have already talked away two miles of your journey; 

 for, from the brook before us, that runs at the foot of this 

 sandy hill, you have but three miles to Ashborn. 



VIAT. I meet, everywhere in this country, with these little 

 brooks ; and they look as if they were full of fish : have they 

 not trouts in them ? 



Pise. That is a question which is to be excused in a 

 stranger, as you are : otherwise, give me leave to tell you, it 

 would seem a kind of affront to our country, to make a doubt 

 of what we pretend to be famous for, next, if not before, our 

 malt, wool, lead, and coal ; for you are to understand, that 

 we think we have as many fine rivers, rivulets, and brooks, 

 as any country whatever ; and they are all full of trouts, and 

 some of them the best, it is said, by many degrees, in England. 



YIAT. I was first, sir, in love with you; and now shall be 

 so enamoured of your country by this account you give me 

 of it, as to wish myself a Derbyshire man, or at least that I 

 might live in it : for you must know I am a pretender to the 

 angle, and, doubtless, a trout affords the most pleasure to the 

 angler of any sort of fish whatever ; and the best trouts must 

 needs make the best sport : but this brook, and some others 

 I have met with upon this way, are too full of wood for that 

 recreation. 



Pise. This, sir ! why this, and several others like it, which 

 you have passed, and some that you are like to pass, have 

 scarce any name amongst us : but we can show you as fine 

 rivers, and as clear from wood, or any other incumbrance to 

 hinder an angler, as any you ever saw ; and for clear, 

 beautiful streams, Hantshire itself, by Mr. Izaak AValton's 

 good leave, can show none such ; nor I think any country in 

 Europe.* 



* This praise will not hold good now. Apart from certain preserved 

 portions of the Dove, the other Derbyshire rivers are not first rate. They cer- 

 tainly are very pretty clear streams, and are difficult to fly-fish ; the well-known 

 Lathkil, on account of its extreme limpidness, the most difficult of all. The 



