400 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



ViAT. Trust me, 't is all very fine, and the house seems 

 at this distance a neat building. 



PiSC. Good enough for that purpose : and here is a 

 bowling-green too, close by it ; so, though I am myself no 

 very good bowler, I am not totally devoted to my own 

 pleasure, but that I have also some regard to other men's. 

 And now, Sir, you are come to the door, pray walk in, and 

 there we will sit and talk as long as you please. 



ViAT. Stay, what 's here over the door ? PlSCATORIBUS 

 SACRUM. Why, then, I perceive I have some title here ; for 

 I am one of them, though one of the worst ; and here 

 below it is the cypher too you spoke of, and 't is prettily 

 contrived. Has my master Walton ever been here to see 

 it, for it seems new built ? 



PiSC. Yes, he saw it cut in the stone before it was set 

 up ; but never in the posture it now stands ; for the house 

 was but building when he was last here, and not raised so 

 high as the arch of the door. And I am afraid he will not 

 see it yet ; for he has lately writ me word, he doubts his 

 coming down this summer ; which, I do assure you, was the 

 worst news he could possibly have sent me. 



ViAT. Men must sometimes mind their affairs to make 

 more room for their pleasures ; and 't is 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 anything I ever saw : it stands in a kind 

 of peninsula 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 '11 try. Why, this is better 

 and better, fine lights, fine wainscoted, and all exceeding 

 neat, with a marble table and all in the middle. 



