THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 267 



the case stands, it must be a little fly, and a very little one too, 

 that must do your business. Well said ! believe me, you shift 

 your fingers very handsomely. I doubt I have taken upon me 

 to teach my master. So, here 's your dubbing now. 



Viator. 'This dubbing is very black. 



Piscator. It appears so in hand ; but step to the door, and 

 hold it up betwixt your eye and the sun, and it will appear a 

 shining red : let me tell you, never a man in England can discern 

 the true colour of a dubbing any way but that ; and, therefore, 

 choose always to make your flies on such a bright sunshine day 

 as this, which also you may the better do, because it is worth 

 nothing to fish in. Here, put it on ; and be sure to make the 

 body of your fly as slender as you can. Very good ! upon my 

 word, you have made a marvellous handsome fly. 



Viator. I am very glad to hear it ; 'tis the first that ever I 

 made of this kind in my life. 



Piscator. Away, away ! You are a doctor at it : but I will 

 not commend you too much, lest I make you proud. Come, 

 put it on ; and you shall now go downward to some streams 

 betwixt the rocks, below the little foot bridge you see there, 

 and try your fortune. Take heed of slipping into the water as 

 you follow me under this rock. So, now you are over : and now 

 throw in. 



Viator. This is a fine stream indeed. There 's one ! I have 

 him. 



Piscator. And a precious catch you have of him ; pull him 

 out ! I see you have a tender hand. This is a diminutive 

 gentleman ; e'en throw him in again, and let him grow till he 

 be more worthy your anger. 



Viator. Pardon me, sir ; all 's fish that comes to the hook with 

 me now. Another. 



Piscator. And of the same standing. 



Viator. I see I shall have good sport now. Another ! and 

 a Grayling. Why, you have fish here at will. 



Piscator. Come, come, cross the bridge, and go down the 

 other side, lower, where you will find finer streams and better 

 sport, I hope, than this. Look you, sir, here is a fine stream 

 now. You have length enough ; stand a little farther off, let 

 me entreat you ; and do but fish this stream like an artist, and 

 peradventure a good fish may fall to your share. How now ! 

 what ! is all gone ? 



Viator. No, I but touch'd him ; but that was a fish worth 

 taking. 



Piscator. Why, now, let me tell you, you lost that fish by 

 your own fault, and through your own eagerness and haste ; for 

 you are never to offer to strike a good fish, if he does not strike 

 himself, till first you see him turn his head after he has taken 



