CHAP. HI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 293 



Pise. Enough, Sir, enough; I have laid open to you 

 the part where I can worst defend myself, and now you 

 attack me there. Come, boy, set two chairs ; and whilst 

 I am taking. a pipe of tobacco, which is always my break- 

 fast, we will, if you please, talk of some other subject. 



Fwf.^None fitter, then, Sir, for the time and place, 

 than those instructions you promis'd. 



Pise. I begin to doubt, by something I discover in you, 

 whether I am able to instruct you or no; though, if you 

 are really a stranger to our clear northern rivers, I still 

 think I can : and therefore, since it is yet too early in the 

 mcrniqg at this time of the year, to-day being but the 

 seventh of March, to cast a fly upon the water, if you 

 will direct me what kind of fishfng for a Trout I shall 

 read you a lecture on, I am willing and ready to obey 

 you. 



Fiat. Why, Sir, if you will so far oblige me, and that 

 it may not be too troublesome to you, I would entreat 

 you would run through the whole body of it; and I will 

 not conceal from you that I am so far in love with you, 

 your courtesy, and pretty More-Land seat, as to resolve 

 to stay with you long enough by intervals, for I will not 

 oppress you, to hear all you can say upon that subject. 



Pise. You cannot oblige me more than by such a pro- 

 mise: and therefore, without more ceremony, I will begin 

 to tell you, that my father Walton having read to you 

 before, it would look like a presumption in me, (and, per- 

 adventure, would do so in any other man,) .to pretend to 

 give lessons for angling after him, who, I do really be- 

 lieve, understands as much of it at least as any man in 

 England, did I not pre-acquaint you, that I am not 

 tempted to it by any vain opinion of myself, that I am 

 able to give you better directions ; but having, from my 

 childhood, pursued the recreation of angling in very clear 

 rivers, truly, I think, by much, (some of them, at least) 



