THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 103 



Venator. Oh, my good master, this morning walk has been 

 spent to my great pleasure and wonder ; but I pray, when shall 

 I have your direction how. to make artificial flies, like to those 

 that the Trout loves best ; and, also, how to use them ? 



Piscator. My honest scholar, it is now past five of the clock ; 

 we will fish till nine ; and then go to breakfast. Go you to yonder 

 sycamore tree, and hide your bottle of drink under the hollow 

 root of it ; for about that time, and in that place, we will make 

 a brave breakfast with a piece of powdered beef, and a radish 

 or too, that I have in my fish bag : we shall, I warrant you, 

 make a good, honest, wholesome hungry breakfast. And I will 

 then give you direction for the making and using of your flies : 

 and in the meantime, there is your rod and line : and my 

 advice is, that you fish as you see me do, and let 's try which 

 can catch the first fish. 



Venator. I thank you, master. I will observe and practise 

 your directions as far as I am able. 



Piscator. Look you, scholar ; you see I have hold of a good 

 fish : I now see it is a Trout. I pray, put that net under him ; 

 and touch not my line, for if you do, then we break all.* Well 

 done, scholar : I thank you. 



Now for another. Trust me, I have another bite. Come, 

 scholar, come, lay down your rod, and help me to land this as 

 you did the other. So now we shall be sure to have a good 

 dish of fish to supper. 



Venator. I am glad of that ; but I have no fortune : sure, 

 master, yours is a better rod and better tackling. 



Piscator. Nay, then, take mine ; and I will fish with yours. 

 Look you, scholar, I have another. Come do as you did before. 

 And now I have a bite at another. Oh me ! he has broke all : 

 there 's half a line, and a good hook lost. 



Venator. Ay, and a good Trout too. 



Piscator. Nay, the Trout is not lost ; for pray take notice, 

 no man can lose what he never had. 



Venator. Master, I can neither catch with the first nor 

 second angle : I have no fortune. 



Piscator. Look you, scholar, I have yet another. And now, 

 having caught three brace of Trouts, I will tell you a short tale 

 as we walk towards our breakfast. A scholar, a preacher I 

 should say, that was to preach, to procure the approbation of a 

 parish that he might be their lecturer, had got from his fellow 

 pupil the copy of a sermon that was first preached with great 

 commmendation by him that composed it; and though the 

 borrower of it preached it, word for word, as it was at first, 



* This is an important maxim in angling ; for while the line flows free 

 from the rod, this gives way by bending as the fish tugs ; while catching 

 the line is certain to snap it. J. R. 



