30 DOVE DALE REVISITED 



" Viator. Stay ; what 's here over the door ? 

 piscatoribus 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 Cifer, too, you spoke of, and 'tis prettily con- 

 trived. Has my Master Walton ever been here 

 to see it, for it seems new built ? 



" Pise. 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 in building when 

 he was last here, and not raised so high as the 

 arch of the Dore, and J am afraid he will not 

 see it yet, for he has lately writ me word he 

 doubts his coming down this summer, which, I 

 assure you, was the worst news he could possibly 

 have sent me." 



The date on the building is 1674. In that 

 singular letter of Walton to Cotton, thanking 

 him for his " very pleasant useful discourse," it 

 will be seen that he refers to the Fishing House. 

 The letter is so interesting and a propos that I 

 make no apology for giving it in full. It was 

 written in 1676, when Walton was in his eighty- 

 third year. 



"To my most Honoured Friend, Charles 

 Cotton, Esq. 



" Sir, You now see, I have return'd you your 

 very pleasant, and useful discourse of the art of 

 File fishing. Printed just as 'twas sent me : 

 for I have been so obedient to your desires, as to 



