CHAP. I. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 3 



destroy some of those villainous vermin ; for I hate them 

 perfectly, because they love fish so well, or rather, 

 because they destroy so much ; indeed so much, that, in 

 my judgment, all men that keep Otter-dogs ought to have 

 pensions from the King, to encourage them to destroy 

 the breed of these base Otters, they do so much mischief. 



Ven. But what say you to the Foxes of the nation, 

 would not you as willingly have them destroyed? for 

 doubtless they do as much mischief as Otters do. 



Pise. Oh, Sir, if they do, it is not so much to me 

 and my fraternity, as those base vermin the Otters do. 



Auc. Why, Sir, I pray, of what fraternity are you, 

 that you are so angry with the poor Otters ? 



Pise. I am, Sir, a Brother of the Angle, and there- 

 fore an enemy to the Otter : for you a/e to note, that 

 we Anglers all love one another, and therefore do I 

 hate the Otter both for my own, and for their sakes who 

 are of my brotherhood. 



Ven. And I am a lover of Hounds ; I have followed 

 many a pack of dogs many a mile, and heard many 

 merry Huntsmen make sport and scoff at Anglers. 



Auc. And I profess myself a Falconer, and have heard 

 many grave, serious men pity them, it is such a heavy, 

 contemptible, dull recreation. 



Pise. You know, Gentlemen, it is an easy thing to 

 scoff at any art or recreation ; a little wit mixed with ill- 

 nature, confidence, and malice, will do it; but though 

 they often venture boldly, yet they are often caught, 

 even in their own trap, according to that of Lucian, 

 the father of the family of Scoffers. 



Luciau, well skill'd in scoffing, this hath writ, 

 Friend, that's your folly, which you think your wit; 

 This you vent oft, void both of wit and fear, 

 Meaning another, when yourself you jeer. 



If to this you add what Solomon says of Scoffers, that 



