CHAP. I,] THE FIRST DA Y, 37 



more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled Merlin is 

 bold ? and yet I doubt not to catch a brace or two to-morrow for 

 a friend's breakfast : doubt not, therefore, Sir, but that Angling is 

 an .art, and an art worth your learning. The question is rather, 

 whether you be capable of learning it ? for angling is somewhat 

 like poetry, men are to be born so : I mean, with inclinations to 

 it, though both may be heightened by discourse and practice : ^ 

 but he that hopes to be a good angler, must not only bring an 

 inquiring, searching, observing wit, but he must bring a large 

 measure of hope and patience, and a love and propensity to the 

 art itself; * but having once got and practised it, then doubt not 

 but angling will prove to be so pleasant, that it will prove to be, 

 like virtue, a reward to itself. 



^ Venator. Sir, I am now become so full of expectation, 

 that I long much to have you proceed, and in the order that you 

 propose, 



PISCATOR. Then first, for the antiquity of Angling, of which 

 I shall not say much, but only this ; some say it is as ancient as 

 Deucalion's flood : others, that Belus, who was the first inventor 

 of godly and virtuous recreations, was the first inventor of 

 Angling : f and some others say, for former times have had their 

 disquisitions about the antiquity of it, that Seth, one of the sons 



VARIATIONS. 



* heightened by practice and experience. — Until $ik edit. 



^ Viator. Sir, I am now become so full of expectation, that I long much to have you 

 proceed in your discoiu-se : and first, I pray, Sir, let me hear concerning the antiquity 

 of it. 



■ Piscator. Sir, I will preface no longer, but proceed in order as you desire me : and 

 first for the antiquity of Angling, I shall not say much ; but only this ; some say it is as 

 ancient as Deucalion's flood : and others (which I like better) sa^ that Belus (who was 

 the inventor of godly and virtuous recreations) was the inventor of it. 



not occur in any edition before the fi/tk.^ because in all the others the passage, *' Is it 

 not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? a trout that is more sharp-sighted 

 than any hawk you [r friend has] have named, and more watchful and timorous than 

 your [his] high-mettled Merlin is bold ; and yet I doubt not to catch a brace or two 

 lo-morrow for a friend's breakfast. Doubt not, therefore, Sir, that Angling is an art," 

 is omitted ; and Piscator's reply reads thus, *' O, Sir, doubt not but that Angling is an 

 art, and an art worth your learning." The objection would be removed by the alter- 

 ations suggested within brackets. 



* Maricham, in his Country Conienimenis, has a whole chapter on the subject of ike 

 Anglers Apfarel, and inward Qualities: some of which are, "That he be a general 

 scholar, and seen in all the liberal sciences ; as z. gramTnarian^ to know how to write, 

 or discourse, of his art in true and fitting terms. He should," says he, " have sweetness 

 of speech^ to entice others to delight in an exercise so much laudable. He should have 

 strength of argument, to defend and maintain his profession against envy and slander." 

 **Then must he be strong 2ia6. valiant; neither to be amazed with storms, nor affrighted 

 with thunder : and if he is not temperate, but has a gnawing stomach that will not endure 

 much fasting, but must observe hours ; it troubleth the mind and body, and loseth that 

 delight which maketh the pastime only pleasing." — H. 



t Opposite to this passage in the _first edition, " J. Da. Jer. Mar." occur, by which 

 was probably meant John Davors, author of the Secrets 0/ Angling, a poem, from which 

 Walton lias given an extract in a subsequent page, and Jervase Markham. The passage 



