2 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 



that pleasant labour which you enjoy, when you purpose to give 

 rest to your mind, and divest yourself of your more serious 

 business, and, which is often, dedicate a day or two to this recrea- 

 tion. At which time, if common Anglers should attend you, and 

 be eyewitnesses of the success, not of your fortune, but your skill, 

 it would doubtless beget in them an emulation to be like you, and 

 that emulation might beget an industrious diligence to be so ; but 

 I know it is not attainable by common capacities : and there be 

 now many men of great wisdom, learning, and experience, which 

 love and practise this Art, that know I speak the truth.^ 



Sir, this pleasant curiosity of Fish and Fishing, of which you 

 are so great a master, has been thought worthy the pens and 

 practices of divers in other nations, that have been reputed men 

 of great learning and wisdom. And amongst those of this nation, 

 I remember Sir Henry Wotton, a dear lover of this Art, has told 

 me, that his intentions were to write a Discourse of the Art, and 

 in praise of Angling ; and doubtless he had done so, if death had 

 not prevented him ; the remembrance of which had often made 

 me sorry, for if he had lived to do it, then the unlearned Angler' 

 had seen some better treatise of this Art, a treatise that might 

 have proved worthy^ his perusal, which, though some have under- 

 taken, I could never yet see in English. 



But mine may be thought as weak, and as unworthy of 

 common view ; and I do here freely confess, that I should rather 

 excuse myself, than censure others, my own discourse being liable 

 to so many exceptions ; against which you. Sir, might make this 

 one, that it can contribute nothing to your knowledge. And 

 lest a longer epistle may diminish your pleasure, I shall make this 

 no ^ longer than to add this following truth, that I am really. Sir, 

 your most affectionate Friend, and most humble Servant, 



Iz, Wa. 



I 



VARIATIONS. 



2 "andthere be," &c., to "the truth," added in the 2ff edit. 

 ^ of which I am one. — ist edit. 



* some treatise of this art worthy. — Ibid. 



* shall not adventure to make this epistle any longer. — First four editions. 



