34 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



VENATOR. Sir, I for my part shall almost answer your 

 hopes ; for my purpose is to drink my morning's draught at 

 the Thatched House in Hoddesdon, a and I think not to rest 

 till I come thither, where I have appointed a friend or two 

 to meet me : but for this gentleman that you see with me, 

 I know not how far he intends his journey ; he came so 

 lately into my company, that I have scarce had time to ask 

 him the question. 



AUCEPS. Sir, I shall by your favour bear you company 

 as far as Theobald's, b and there leave you ; for then I turn 

 up to a friend's house who mews 1 a hawk for me, which I 

 now long to see. 



VEN. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, 

 cool morning ; and I hope we shall each be the happier in 

 the other's company. And, gentlemen, that I may not lose 

 yours, I shall either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it ; 

 knowing that, as the Italians say, " Good company in a jour- 

 ney makes the way to seem the shorter." 



AUG. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good discourse, 

 which methinks we may promise from you that both look 

 and speak so cheerfully ; and for my part I promise you, as 

 an invitation to it, that I will be as free and open-hearted as 

 discretion will allow me to be with strangers. 



VEN. And, Sir, I promise the like; . 



PlSC. I am right glad to hear your answers, and in confi- 

 dence you speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to ask 

 you, Sir, whether business or pleasure caused you to be so 

 early up, and walk so fast ; for this other gentleman hath 

 declared that he is going to see a hawk that a friend mews 

 for him. 



VEN. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and 



