CHAP. III.] THE SECOND DAT. 381 



with this little house of any thing I ever saw. It stands 

 in a kind of peninsula too, with a delicate clear river about 

 it. I dare hardly go in, lest I should not like it so well 

 within as without ; but by your leave I'll try. Why this is 

 better and better, fine lights, finely wainscoted, and all 

 exceeding neat, with a marble table and all in the middle. 



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 breakfast, we 

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



Viat. None fitter, then, sir, for the time and place, than 

 those instructions you promised. 



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 

 morning 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 fishing for a trout I shall read you a 

 lecture on, I am willing and ready to obey you. 



Viat. 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 Moreland 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 promise. 

 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 peradventure 

 would do so in any other man, to pretend to give lessons for 

 angling after him who, I do really believe, 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 direc- 

 tions ; but, having from my childhood pursued the recreation 

 of angling in very clear rivers, truly I think by much, some 

 of them at least, the clearest in this kingdom, and the 

 manner of angling here with us, by reason of that exceeding 



