Fly-Fifhing. 81 



There are perfons, it is true, of fuch a ftrange 

 temperament, that they can go forth and gaze 

 upon the fair landfcape in a May-morning, with 

 no fymptom of emotion to prove that they are 

 either pleafed or pained at the fpe&acle before 

 them. Let the fun light up the whole expanfe 

 within the horizon with its glorious beams, they 

 appear to be no more gladdened than if all were 

 eclipfed in gloom, and fading into darknefs. Let 

 every tree that meets them, every hedge-row they 

 pafs by, be clothed in their neweft apparel of 

 fofteft green that is fo grateful to the eye ! the 

 change by them is no more noticed than if each 

 branch, and bough, and fpray, remained as leaflefs 

 as they were a month or two previoufly. Let the 

 flowers at their feet woo them, by the beauty of 

 their bloflbms, or the fragrance they fling forth in 

 fuch fweet profufion ; their fenfes feem faft locked 

 up in impenetrable obtufenefs. 



To fuch as thefe it would be in vain to write 

 of the aiTociations that are infeparable from fly- 

 fiming. They ought not to leave the fmoky pur- 

 lieus of the city, or the little coterie of choice 

 fpirits like themfelves, who can divine nothing be- 

 yond the bare utilitarian principle itfelf worth liv- 

 ing for. 



G 



