248 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part ir. 



fingers very handsomely. I doubt I have taken upon me to teach 

 my master. So, here's your dubbing now. 



Viator. This dubbing is very black. 



PiscATOR. It appears so in hand ; but step to the doors and 

 hold it up betwixt your eye and the sun, and it will appear a shin- 

 ing red ; let me tell you, never a man in England can discern 

 the true colour of a dubbing any way but that ; and therefore 

 choose always to make your flies on such a bright sunshine day 

 as this, which also you may the better do, because it is worth 

 nothing to fish in. Here, put it on ; and be sure to make the 

 body of your fly as slender as you can. Very good ! upon my 

 word, you have made a marvellous handsome fly. 



Viator. I am very glad to hear it ; 'tis the first that ever I 

 made of this kind in my life. 



PiSCATOR. Away, away ! You are a doctor at it : but I will 

 not commend you too much, lest I make you proud. Come, put 

 it on ; and you shall now go downward, to some stream betwixt 

 the rocks, below the little foot-bridge you see there,* and try your 

 fortune. Take heed of slipping into the water as you follow me 

 under this rock. So now you are over : and now throw in. 



Viator. This is a fine stream indeed. There's one ! I have 

 him ! 



PiSCATOR. And a precious catch you have of him ; pull him 

 out ! I see you have a tender hand. This is a diminutive gentle- 

 man ; e'en throw "him in again, and let him grow till he be more 

 worthy of your anger. 



Viator. Pardon me. Sir, all's fish that comes to the hook 

 with me now. Another ! 



PiSCATOR. And of the same standing. 



Viator. I see I shall have good sport now. Another ! and 

 a grayling. Why, you have fish here at will. 



PiSCATOR. Come, come, cross the bridge ; and go down the 

 other side, lower, where you will find finer streams and better 

 sport, I hope, than this. Look you. Sir, here is a fine stream 

 now. You have length enough ; stand a little further off, let me 

 entreat you ; and do but fish this stream like an artist, and per- 

 adventure a good fish may fall to your share. How now ! what I 

 is all gone ? 



Viator. No, I but touched him ; but that was a fish worth 

 taking. 



PiSCATOR. Why, now let me tell you, you lost that fish by 



* This bridge has been removed. See the note in p. 251. 



