262 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



more room for their pleasures : and 'tis odds he is as much 

 displeased with the business that keeps him from you, as you 

 are that he comes not. But I am most pleased with this little 

 house of any thing I ever saw : it stands in a kind of penin- 

 sula too, with a delicate clear river about it. I dare hardly 

 go in, lest I should not like it so well within as without : but, 

 by your leave, I'll try. Why, this is better and better, fine 

 lights, fine wainscoted, and all exceeding neat, with a marble 

 table and all in the middle ! 



Pise. Enough, sir, enough ; I have laid open to you the 

 part where I can worst defend myself, and now you attack me 

 there. Come, boy, set two chairs ; and whilst I am taking a 

 pipe of tobacco, which is always my breakfast, we will, if you 

 please, talk of some other subject. 



YIAT. None fitter, then, sir, for the time and place, than 

 those instructions you promised. 



Pise. I begin to doubt, by something I discover in you, 

 whether I am able to instruct you or no ; though, if you are 

 really a stranger to our clear northern rivers, I still think I 

 can : and therefore, since it is yet too early in the morning 

 at this time of the year, to-day being but the seventh of 

 March, to cast a fly upon the water, if you will direct me 

 what kind of fishing for a trout I shall read you a lecture on, 

 I am willing and ready to obey you. 



"ViAT. Why, sir, if you will so far oblige me, and that it 

 may not be too troublesome to you, I would entreat you 

 would run through the whole body of it ; and I will not 

 conceal from you that I am. so far in love with you, your 

 courtesy, and pretty More-Land seat, as to resolve to stay 

 with you long enough by intervals, for I will not oppress 

 you to hear all you can say upon that subject. 



Pise. You cannot oblige me more than by such a promise : 

 and therefore, without more ceremony, I will begin to tell 

 you, that my father Walton having read to you before, it 

 would look like a presumption in me (and, perad venture, 

 would do so in any other man), to pretend to give lessons for 

 angling after him, who, I do really believe, understands as 

 much of it at least as any man in England, did I not pre- 

 acquaint you, that I am not tempted to it by any vain opi- 

 nion of myself, that I am able to give you better directions ; 

 but having, from my childhood, pursued the recreation of 

 angling in very clear rivers, truly I think by much, some of 

 them at least, the clearest in this kingdom, and the manner 



