24 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part I 



Venator, Sir, you have almost amazed me ; for though I am 

 no Scoffer, yet I have, I pray let me speak it without offence, 

 always looked upon Anglers, as more patient, and more simple 

 men, than I fear I shall find you to be. 



PiSCATOR. Sir, I hope you Will not judge my earnestness ' to 

 be impatience : and for my simplicity, if by that you mean a 

 harmlessness, or that simplicity which was usually found in the 

 primitive Christians, who were, as most Anglers are, quiet men, 

 and followers of peace ; men that were so simply wise, as not to 

 sell their consciences to buy riches, and with them vexation and a 

 fear to die ; if you mean such simple men as lived in those times 

 when there were fewer lavifyers ; when men might have had a lord- 

 ship safely conveyed to them in a piece of parchment no bigger 

 than your hand, though several sheets wiU not do it safely in this 

 wiser age ; I say. Sir, if you take us Anglers to be such simple 

 men as I have spoke of, then myself and those of my profession 

 will be glad to be so understood : But if by simplicity you meant 

 to express a general defect in those that profess and practise the 

 excellent Art of Angling, I hope in time to disabuse you, and make 

 the contrary appear so evidently, that if you will but have patience 

 to hear me, I shall remove all the anticipations that discourse,* or 

 time, or prejudice, have possessed you with against that laudable 

 and ancient Art ; for I know it is worthy the knowledge and 

 practice of a wise man. 



But, Gentlemen, though I be able to do this, I am not so un- 

 mannerly as to engross all the discourse to myself; and therefore, 

 you two having declared yourselves, the one to be a lover of 

 Hawks, the other of Hounds, I shall be most glad to hear what 

 you can say in the commendation of that recreation which each of 

 you love and practise ; and having heard what you can say, I 



VARIATION. 



* Discourse may have possessed you with, against that ancient and laudable Art. 



Viator. Why, Sir, is Angling of antiquity, and an Art, and au Art not easily 

 learned ? 



Piscator. Yes, Sir ; and I doubt not but that if you and I were to converse together 

 but till night, I should leave you possessed with flie same happy thoughts that now 

 possess me ; not only from the antiquity of it, but that it deserves commendations ; and 

 that it is an Art, and worthy the knowledge and practice! of a wise and a serious man. 



Viator, Sir, I pray speak of them what you shall think fit ; for we have yet five 

 miles to walk before we shall come to the Thatched^ House. And, Sir, though my 

 infirmities are many, yet I dare promise you, that both my patience and attention will 

 endure to hear wKat you will say till we come thither: and if you please to begin in 

 order with the antiquity, when that is done you shall hot want my attention to the 

 commendations and accommodations of it: and lastly, if you shall convince me that it is 

 an Art, and-an Art worth learning, I shall beg I may become your scholar, both to wait 

 upon you, and be instructed in the Art itself. 



