CHAP. I. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 5 



is so full of pleasure, that we need not borrow their 

 thoughts, to think ourselves happy. 



Yen-, Sir, you have almost amazed me; for though I am 

 no Scoffer, yet I have, I pray let me speak it without 

 offence, always looked upon Anglers as more patient, 

 and more simple men, than I fear I shall find you to be. 



Pise. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestness to 

 be impatience : and for my simplicity, if by that you mean 

 a harmlessness, or that simplicity which was usually found 

 in the primitive Christians, who were, as most Anglers 

 are, quiet men, and followers of peace; men that were so 

 simply wise, as not to sell their Consciences, to buy 

 riches, and with them vexation and a fear to die ; if you 

 mean such simple men as lived in those times when there 

 were fewer Lawyers ; when men might have had a Lord- 

 ship safely conveyed to them in a piece of parchment 

 no bigger than your hand, though several sheets will 

 not do it safely in this wiser age; I say, Sir, if you take us 

 Anglers to be such simple men as I have spoke of, then 

 myself and those of my profession will be glad to be 

 so understood : But if by simplicity you meant to express 

 a general defect in those that profess and practise the 

 excellent Art of Angling, I hope in time to disabuse you, 

 and make the contrary appear so evidently, that if you 

 will but have patience to hear me, I shall remove all 

 the anticipations that discourse, or time, or prejudice, 

 have possessed you with against that laudable and 

 ancient Art ; for I know it is worthy the knowledge and 

 practice of a wise man. 



But, Gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I am not 

 so unmannerly as to engross all the discourse to myself; 

 and, therefore, you two having declared yourselves, the 

 one to be a lover of Hawks, the other of Hounds, I shall 

 be most glad to hear what you can say in the commen- 



