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bodies； but with such observations for the mind as ingenious persons
would not want！
How ignorant had we been of the beauty of Florence； of the
monuments； urns； and rarities that yet remain in and near unto old and new
Rome； so many as it is said will take up a year's time to view； and afford to
each of them but a convenient consideration！ And therefore it is not to be
wondered at； that so learned and devout a father as St。 Jerome； after his
wish to have seen Christ in the flesh； and to have heard St。 Paul preach；
makes his third wish； to have seen Rome in her glory； and that glory is not
yet all lost； for what pleasure is it to see the monuments of Livy； the
choicest of the historians； of Tully； the best of orators； and to see the bay
trees that now grow out of the very tomb of Virgil！ These； to any that love
learning； must be pleasing。 But what pleasure is it to a devout Christian； to
see there the humble house in which St。 Paul was content to dwell； and to
view the many rich statues that are made in honour of his memory！ nay； to
see the very place in which St。 Peter and he lie buried together！ These are
in and near to Rome。 And how much more doth it please the pious
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curiosity of a Christian； to see that place； on which the blessed Saviour of
the world was pleased to humble himself； and to take our nature upon him；
and to converse with men： to see Mount Sion； Jerusalem； and the very
sepulchre of our Lord Jesus！ How may it beget and heighten the zeal of a
Christian； to see the devotions that are daily paid to him at that place！
Gentlemen； lest I forget myself； I will stop here； and remember you； that
but for my element of water； the inhabitants of this poor island must
remain ignorant that such things ever were； or that any of them have yet a
being。
Gentlemen； I might both enlarge and lose myself in such like
arguments。 I might tell you that Almighty God is said to have spoken to a
fish； but never to a beast； that he hath made a whale a ship； to carry and set
his prophet； Jonah； safe on the appointed shore。 Of these I might speak；
but I must in manners break off； for I see Theobald's House。 I cry you
mercy for being so long； and thank you for your patience。
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 concerning 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
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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 scholar； 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 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 worth your learning。 The question is rather；
whether you be capable of learning it？ 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 practiced 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： and some others say； for
former times have had their disquisitions about the antiquity of it； that
Seth； one of the sons of Adam； taught it to his sons； and that by them it
was derived to posterity： others say that he left it engraver on those pillars
which he erected； and trusted to preserve the knowledge of the
mathematicks； musick； and the rest of that precious knowledge； and those
useful arts； which by God's appointment or allowance； and his noble
industry； were thereby preserved from perishing in Noah's flood。
These； Sir； have been the opinions of several men； that have possibly
endeavoured to make angling more ancient than is needful； or may well be
warranted； but for my part； I shall content myself in telling you； that
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