FIRST DAY. 385 



deceiving a trout ; in which art I will not deny but that I 

 have an ambition to be one of the greatest deceivers : though 

 I cannot forbear freely to tell you, that I think it hard to 

 say much more than has been read to me upon that subject. 



PlSC. Well, Sir, I grant that, too ; but you must know 

 that the variety of rivers require different ways of angling : 

 however, you shall have the best rules I am able to give, 

 and I will tell you nothing I have not made myself as cer- 

 tain of, as any man can be in a thirty years' experience (for 

 so long I have been a dabbler in that art) ; and that, if you 

 please to stay a few days, you shall, in a very great measure, 

 see made good to you ; but of that hereafter. And now, Sir, 

 if I am not mistaken, I have half overcome you ; and that 

 I may wholly conquer that modesty of yours, I will take 

 upon me to be so familiar as to say, you must accept my 

 invitation, which, that you may the more easily be persuaded 

 to do, I will tell you that my house stands upon the margin 

 of one of the finest rivers for trout and grayling in England ; 

 that I have lately built a little fishing-house upon it, dedicated 

 to anglers, over the door of which you will see the two first 

 letters of my father Walton's name and mine twisted in 

 cypher; that you shall lie in the same bed he has sometimes 

 been contented with, and have such country entertainment 

 as my friends sometimes accept, and be as welcome, too, as 

 the best friend of them all. 



VlAT. No doubt, Sir, but my master Walton found good 

 reason to be satisfied with his entertainment in your house; 

 for you who are so friendly to a mere stranger, who deserves 

 so little, must needs be exceeding kind and free to him who 

 deserves so much. 



PlSC. Believe me, no ; and such as are intimately ac- 



