THE LITERATUEE OP PISHING. 43 



pitied (poor man) for his loss of time, in scribbling and transcribing 

 other men's notions. These are the drones that rob the hive, yet 

 flatter the bees they bring them honey." 



This is a hard hit ; and it would appear that the author, 

 who was also a practical angler and salmon fisherman, had 

 on one occasion a personal argument on matters piscatorial 

 with Walton. Sir Walter Scott, however, who, in 1821, 

 published an edition of Franck with preface and notes, 

 comes to Walton's rescue, though he credits Franck with 

 practical angling knowledge. He says, — - 



" Probably no readers while they read the disparaging passages in 

 which the venerable Izaac Walton is ^introduced, can forbear wishing 

 that the good old man, who had so true an eye for Nature, so simple a 

 taste for her most innocent pleasures, and withal, so sound a judg- 

 ment, both concerning men and things, had made this northern tour 

 instead of Franck ; and had detailed in the beautiful simplicity of his 

 Arcadian language, his observations on the scenery and manners ot 

 Scotland. Yet we must do our author the justice to state, that he is 

 as much superior to the excellent patriarch Izaac Walton, in the 

 mystery of fly-fishing, as inferior to him in taste, feeling, and common 

 sense. Franck's contests with salmon are painted to the life, and his 

 directions to the angler are generally given with great judgment." 



Byron, who had seldom a good word for any one, bad 

 his fling at old Izaac, when he says, — 



" And angling, too, that solitary vice, 



Whatever Isaak Walton sings or says ; 

 The quaint, old, cruel coxcomb, in his gullet 

 Should have a hook, and a small trout to pull it." 



And even a modern author on angling, who must at 

 least be given credit for the courage of his opinions, says 

 of the Complete Angler, — 



" I am free to confess I have derived neither pleasure nor profit. 

 There is no doubt that in his day the worthy citizen was an excellent 

 angler ; he was also a simple-minded, kindly, prosy, and very vain old 



