CHAP. III.. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 291 



landing-net; and stay you there till we come. Come, 

 Sir, we'll walk after, where, by the way, I expect you 

 should raise all the exceptions against our country you 

 can. 



Viat. Nay, Sir, do not think me so ill-natur'd nor so 

 uncivil : I only made a little bold with it last night to 

 divert you, and was only in jest. 



PMC. You were then in as good earnest as I am now 

 with you ; but had you been really angry at it, I could 

 not blame you : for, to say the truth, it is not very taking 

 at first sight. But look you, Sir, now you are abroad, 

 does not the sun shine as bright here as in Essex, Mid- 

 dlesex, or Kent, or any of your southern counties ? 



Viat. 'Tis a delicate morning, indeed, and I now think 

 this a marvellous pretty place. 



PMC. Whether you think so or no, you cannot oblige 

 me more than to say so : and those of my friends who 

 know my humour, and are so kind as to comply with it, 

 usually flatter me that way. But look you, Sir, now you 

 are at the brink of the hill, how do you like my river; the 

 vale it winds through, like a snake; and the situation of 

 my little fishing-house? 



Viat . Trust me, 'tis all very fine ; and the house seems, 

 at this distance, a neat building. 



PMC. Good enough for that purpose. And here is a 

 bowling-green too, close by it; so though I am myself n 

 very good bowler, I am not totally devoted to my owi 

 pleasure, but that I have also some regard to other men's. 

 And now, Sir, you are come to the door : pray walk in, 

 and there we'll sit, and talk as long as you please. 



Viat. Stay, what's here over the door? PISCATORIBUS 

 SACRUM.* Why then, I perceive I have 

 some title here ; for I am one of them, 

 thousrh one of the worst. And here, of the 'fishing home* has 



' Been described ; futt the 

 below it, IS the Cypher* tOO you Spoke pleasantness of the river, 



2 u 



