PISHING AS A SPOET. 91 



minds of anglers being usually calm and composed, but wben be has 

 the worse success, he only loseth but a hook and line, or, perhaps what 

 he never possessed, a fish ; and suppose he takes nothing, yet he 

 enjoyeth a delightful walk by pleasant rivers, in sweet pastures, 

 amongst odoriferous flowers, which gratify his senses and delight his 

 mind." 



Aptly, too, has a well-known scholar thus hexametrised 

 the virtue of angling, — 



" Felix cui placidse f raudes atque otia curae 

 Piscator ! tibi enim tranquillo in corde severum 

 Subsidet desiderium, tibi sedulus angor, 

 Dum tremula undarum facies, et mobilis umbra, 

 Dum purse grave murmur aquae, virtute quieta 

 Composuere animum, et blandis affectibus implent." 



And Washington Irving, no mean authority, has said 

 in the same key, — 



" There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a 

 gentleness of spirit and a pure serenity of mind." 



That patience is one of the virtues of an angler, is 

 a trite theme. " Te have heard of the patience of Job." 

 Who has not heard of the patience of the fisherman ? An 

 old angler and writer in 1692, says, with a slight touch of 

 sarcasm, and perhaps after a blank day, — 



" If patience be a virtue, then 

 How happy are we fishermen ! 

 For all do know that those who fish 

 Have patience more than heart can wish." 



But whether anglers have patience or not, certain it is 

 that this virtue is a sine qua non for success. I hold they 

 have it, and that the constant pursuit of their pastime is 

 constantly developing it. Bad sport, like bad sermons, 

 calls forth this virtue. That some anglers are im- 

 patient I admit ; and doubtless they were so in Walton's 



