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Piscator。 Sir； my fortune has answered my desires； and my purpose is
to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some of those villanous
vermin： for I hate them perfectly； because they love fish so well； or rather；
because they destroy so much； indeed so much； that； in my judgment all
men that keep Otter…dogs ought to have pen〃 signs from the King； to
encourage them to destroy the very breed of those base Otters； they do so
much mischief。
Venator。 But what say you to the Foxes of the Nation； would not you
as willingly have them destroyed ？ for doubtless they do as much mischief
as Otters do。
Piscator。 Oh； Sir； if they do； it is not so much to me and my fraternity；
as those base vermin the Otters do。
Auceps。 Why； Sir； I pray； of what fraternity are you； that you are so
angry with the poor Otters？
Piscator。 I am； Sir； a Brother of the Angle； and therefore an enemy to
the Otter： for you are to note； that we Anglers all love one another； and
therefore do I hate the Otter both for my own； and their sakes who are of
my brotherhood。
Venator。 And I am a lover of Hounds； I have followed many a pack of
dogs many a mile； and heard many merry Huntsmen make sport and scoff
at Anglers。
Auceps。 And I profess myself a Falconer； and have heard many grave；
serious men pity them； it is such a heavy； contemptible； dull recreation。
Piscator。 You know； Gentlemen； it is an easy thing to scoff at any art or
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THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
recreation； a little wit mixed with ill nature； confidence； and malice； will
do it； but though they often venture boldly； yet they are often caught； even
in their own trap； according to that of Lucian； the father of the family of
Scoffers：
Lucian； well skilled in scoffing； this hath writ； Friend； that's your folly；
which you think your wit： This you vent oft； void both of wit and fear；
Meaning another； when yourself you jeer。
If to this you add what Solomon says of Scoffers； that they are an
abomination to mankind； let him that thinks fit scoff on； and be a Scoffer
still； but I account them enemies to me and all that love Virtue and
Angling。
And for you that have heard many grave； serious men pity Anglers； let
me tell you； Sir； there be many men that are by others taken to be serious
and grave men； whom we contemn and pity Men that are taken to be grave；
because nature hath made them of a sour complexion； money…getting men；
men that spend all their time； first in getting； and next； in anxious care to
keep it； men that are condemned to be rich； and then always busy or
discontented： for these poor rich…men； we Anglers pity them perfectly； and
stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think ourselves so happy。 No；
no； Sir； we enjoy a contentedness above the reach of such dispositions； and
as the learned and ingenuous Montaigne says； like himself； freely； 〃 When
my Cat and I entertain each other with mutual apish tricks； as playing with
a garter； who knows but that I make my Cat more sport than she makes me？
Shall I conclude her to be simple； that has her time to begin or refuse； to
play as freely as I myself have？ Nay； who knows but that it is a defect of
my not understanding her language； for doubtless Cats talk and reason
with one another； that we agree no better： and who knows but that she
pities me for being no wiser than to play with her； and laughs and censures
my folly； for making sport for her； when we two play together？〃
Thus freely speaks Montaigne concerning Cats； and I hope I may take
as great a liberty to blame any man； and laugh at him too； let him be never
so grave； that hath not heard what Anglers can say in the justification of
their Art and Recreation； which I may again tell you； is so full of pleasure；
that we need not borrow their thoughts； to think ourselves happy。
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THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
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 lawyers； when men might have
had a lordship safe＇y conveyed to them in a piece of parchment no bigger
than your hand； though several sheets will 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 practice 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 unmannerly 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 practice； and having heard what
you can say； I shall be glad to exercise your attention with what I can say
concerning my own recreation and Art of Angling； and by this means we
shall make the way to seem the shorter： and if you like my motion； I
would have Mr。 Falconer to begin。
Auceps。 Your motion is consented to with all my heart； and to testify it；
I will begin as you have desired me。
And first； for the Element that I use to trade in； which is the Air； an