FLIES. 21 



are all in character ; and if not extremely pic- 

 turesque, it is at least a very pleasant scene, 

 from its verdure and pure waters, for the 

 lovers of our innocent amusement. 



HAL. It is ten o'clock ; you may put up 

 your rods, or take rods from the hall : for so 

 hospitable is the master of this mansion, that 

 every thing is supplied to our hands. And, 

 Physicus, as you are the only one of our party 

 ignorant of the art of fly fishing, I will fit you 

 with a rod and flies ; and let me advise you to 

 begin with a line shorter than your rod, and 

 throw at first slowly and without effort, and 

 imitate us as well as you can. As for precepts, 

 they are of little value ; practice and imitation 

 will make you an angler. 



POIET. I shall put together my rod, and 

 fish with my own flies. It may be fancy, but 

 I always think I do best with tackle with 

 which I am used to fish. 



HAL. You are right ; for fancy is always 

 something: and when we believe that we can 

 do things better in a particular way, we really 

 do, by the influence of imagination, perform 

 them both better and with less effort. I agree 

 c 3 



