CHAP. VI. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 305 



thus I work it up towards the head ; thus I part my wings; 

 thus I nip my superfluous dubbing from my silk ; thus 

 fasten; thus trim and adjust my fly. And there's a fly 

 made ; and now how do you like it ? 



Viat. In earnest, admirably well ; and it perfectly re- 

 sembles a fly : but we about London make the bodies of 

 our flies both much bigger and longer, so long as even 

 almost to the very beard of the hook. 



Pise. I know it very well, and had one of those flies 

 given me by an honest gentleman, who came with my 

 father Walton to give me a visit ; which (to tell you the 

 truth) I hung in my parlour-window to laugh at : but, Sir, 

 you know the proverb, " They who go to Rome, must do 

 as they at Rome do ;" and believe me, you must here make 

 your flies after this fashion, or you will take no fish. Come, 

 I will look you out a line, and you shall put it on, and 

 try it. There, Sir, now I think you are fitted ; and now 

 beyond the farther end of the walk you shall begin : I see, 

 at that bend of the water above, the air crisps the water 

 a little: knit your line first here, and then go up thither, 

 and see what you can do. 



Viat . Did you see that, Sir ? 



Pise, Yes, I saw the fish : and he saw you too, which made 

 him turn short. You must fish further off, if you intend to 

 have any sport here ; this is no New River, let me tell you. 

 That was a good Trout, believe me : did you touch him. 



fiat. No, I would I had, we would not have parted so. 

 Look you, there was another : this is an excellent fly. 



Pise. That fly I am sure would kill fish, if the day were 

 right : but they only chew at it, I see, and will not take 

 it. Come, Sir, let us return back to the fishing-house : 

 this still water, I see, will not do our business to-day : 

 you shall now, if you please, make a fly yourself, 1 and 



(1) To make a fly is so essential, that he hardly deserves the name of an 

 angler, who cannot do it. There are many who will go to a tackle-shop, und 



