36 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



AUCEPS. Sir, my pardon is easily granted you : I except 

 against nothing that you have said : nevertheless, I must part 

 with you at this park wall, for which I am very sorry ; but I 

 assure you, Mr Piscator, I now part with you full of good thoughts, 

 not only of yourself but your recreation. And so. Gentlemen, 

 God keep you both. 



Piscator. Well now, Mr Venator, you shall neither want 

 time nor my attention to hear you enlarge your discourse con- 

 cerning hunting. 



Venator. Not I, Sir : I remember you said that Angling 

 itself was of great antiquity, and a perfect art, and an art not 

 easily attained to ; and you have so won upon me in your former 

 discourse, that I am very desirous to hear what you can say 

 further concerning those particulars. 



Piscator. Sir, I did say so : and I doubt not but if you and 

 I did converse together but a few hours, to leave you possessed 

 with the same high and happy thoughts that now possess me of 

 it ; not only of the antiquity of Angling, but that it deserves 

 commendations ; and that it is an art, and an art worthy the 

 knowledge and practice of a wise man. 



Venator. Pray, Sir, speak of them what you think fit, for we 

 have yet five miles to the Thatched House ; during which walk, I 

 dare promise you, my patience and diligent attention shall not be 

 wanting. And if you shall make that to appear which you have 

 undertaken, first, that it is an art, and an art worth the learning, 

 I shall beg that I may attend you a day or two a-fishing, and that 

 I may become your sph'olar, and be instructed in the art itself 

 which you so much magnify. 



^ Piscator. O, Sir, doubt not but that Angling is an art ; 

 is it not an art to deceive a Trout with an artificial Fly ? a Trout ! 

 that is more sharp-sighted than any Hawk you* have named, and 



VARIATIOH. 



3 Piscator. Oh, Sir, it is not to be questioned but that it is an art, and an art worth 

 your learning : the question will rather be, whether you be capable of learning it 1 For 

 he that learns it must not only bring an inquiring, searching, and discerning wit ; but 

 he must bring also that patience you talk of, and a love and propensity to the art itself; 

 but, having once got and practised it, then doubt not but the art will (both for' the 

 pleasure and profit of it) prove like to virtue, a reward to itself. 



stood on the opposite side of the road leading from Waltham-Cross to Cheshunt: and 

 adjoining was a large building called the Alms-house, supposed to have been built by 

 Lord Burleigh', and appropriated as a residence for some of his pensioners : it had a hall 

 and chapel. This building, with the arms of Cecil in front, was standing till within these 

 three years. — E. 



* This is a mistake: it was Auceps, and not Venaioy, that named the Hawks: and 

 Aitceps had before taken his leave of these his companions. — H. The discrepancy does 



