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opportunity； and a like time of leisure。
Venator。 Sir； you have angled me on with much pleasure to the
Thatched House； and I now find your words true； 〃 that good company
makes the way seem short 〃； for trust me； Sir； I thought we had wanted
three miles of this house； till you showed it to me。 But now we are at it；
we'll turn into it； and refresh ourselves with a cup of drink； and a little rest
Piscator。 Most gladly； Sir； and we'll drink a civil cup to all the Otter…
hunters that are to meet you to…morrow。
Venator。 That we will； Sir； and to all the lovers of Angling too； of
which number I am now willing to be one myself； for； by the help of your
good discourse and company； I have put on new thoughts both of the art of
Angling and of all that profess it； and if you will but meet me to…morrow
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at the time and place appointed； and bestow one day with me and my
friends； in hunting the Otter； I will dedicate the next two days to wait upon
you； and we too will； for that time； do nothing but angle； and talk of fish
and fishing。
Piscator。 It is a match； Sir； I will not fail you； God willing； to be at
Amwell Hill to…morrow morning before sun…rising。
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The second day
On the Otter and the Chub
Chapter II
Piscator； Venator； Huntsman； and Hostess
Venator。 My friend Piscator； you have kept time with my thoughts； for
the sun is just rising； and I myself just now come to this place； and the
dogs have just now put down an Otter。 Look ！ down at the bottom of the
hill there； in that meadow； chequered with water…lilies and lady… smocks；
there you may see what work they make； look！ look！ you may see all busy；
men and dogs； dogs and men； all busy。
Piscator。 Sir； I am right glad to meet you； and glad to have so fair an
entrance into this day's sport； and glad to see so many dogs； and more men；
all in pursuit of the Otter。 Let us compliment no longer； but join unto them。
Come； honest Venator； let us be gone； let us make haste； I long to be doing；
no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me。
Venator。 Gentleman Huntsman； where found you this Otter？
Huntsman。 Marry； Sir； we found her a mile from this place； a…fishing
She has this morning eaten the greatest part of this Trout； she has only left
thus much of it as you see； and was fishing for more； when we came we
found her just at it： but we were here very early； we were here an hour
before sunrise； and have given her no rest since we came； sure she will
hardly escape all these dogs and men。 I am to have the skin if we kill her。
Venator。 Why； Sir； what is the skin worth？
Huntsman。 It is worth ten shillings to make gloves； the gloves of an
Otter are the best fortification for your hands that can be thought on
against wet weather。
Piscator。 I pray； honest Huntsman； let me ask you a pleasant question：
do you hunt a beast or a fish？
Huntsman。 Sir； it is not in my power to resolve you； I leave it to be
resolved by the college of Carthusians； who have made vows never to eat
flesh。 But； I have heard； the question hath been debated among many great
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clerks； and they seem to differ about it； yet most agree that her tail is fish：
and if her body be fish too； then I may say that a fish will walk upon land：
for an Otter does so sometimes； five or six or ten miles in a night； to catch
for her young ones； or to glut herself with fish。 And I can tell you that
Pigeons will fly forty miles for a breakfast： but； Sir； I am sure the Otter
devours much fish； and kills and spoils much more than he eats。 And I can
tell you； that this dog…fisher； for so the Latins call him； can smell a fish in
the water a hundred yards from him： Gesner says much farther： and that
his stones are good against the falling sickness； and that there is an herb；
Benione； which； being hung in a linen cloth near a fish…pond； or any haunt
that he uses； makes him to avoid the place； which proves he smells both
by water and land。 And； I can tell you； there is brave hunting this water…
dog in Cornwall； where there have been so many； that our learned Camden
says there is a river called Ottersey； which was so named by reason of the
abundance of Otters that bred and fed in it。
And thus much for my knowledge of the Otter； which you may now
see above water at vent； and the dogs close with him； I now see he will not
last long。 Follow； therefore； my masters； follow； for Sweetlips was like to
have him at this last vent。
Venator。 Oh me！ all the horse are got over the river； what shall we do
now？ shall we follow them over the water ？
Huntsman。 No； Sir； no； be not so eager； stay a little； and follow me； for
both they and the dogs will be suddenly on this side again； I warrant you；
and the Otter too； it may be。 Now have at him with Kilbuck； for he vents
again。
Venator。 Marry！ so he does； for； look！ he vents in that corner。 Now；
now； Ringwood has him： now； he is gone again； and has bit the poor dog。
Now Sweetlips has her； hold her； Sweetlips！ now all the dogs have her；
some above and some under water： but； now； now she is tired； and past
losing Come bring her to me； Sweetlips。 Look！ it is a Bitch…otter； and she
has lately whelp'd。 Let's go to the place where she was put down； and； not
far from it； you will find all her young ones； I dare warrant you； and kill
them all too。
Huntsman。 Come； Gentlemen ！ come； all！ let's go to the place where
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we put down the Otter。 Look you ！ hereabout it was that she kennelled；
look you ！ here it was indeed； for here's her young ones； no less than five：
come； let us kill them all。
Piscator。 No： I pray； Sir； save me one； and I'll try if I can make her
tame； as I know an ingenious gentleman in Leicestershire； Mr。 Nich。
Segrave； has done； who hath not only made her tame； but to catch fish；
and do many other things of much pleasure
Huntsman。 Take one with all my heart； but let us kill the rest。 And now
let's go to