20 SALMONIA. [SECOND DAY. 



tremely picturesque, 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 everything 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 imagi- 

 nation, perform them both better and with less effort. 

 I agree with moralists, that the standard of virtue should 

 be placed higher than any one can reach ; for in trying 

 to rise, man will attain a more excellent state of being 

 than if no effort were made. But to our business. As 

 far as the perfection of the material for the angler is 

 concerned, the flies you find on this table are as good 

 as can be made, and for this season of the year, there 



