which, that you may the more easily be persuaded to do, I will tell you that my house stands upon the margin of one of the finest rivers for trouts and grayling in England; that I have lately built a little fishing-house upon it, dedicated to anglers, over the door of which you will see the two first letters of my father Walton's name and mine twisted in cipher; that you shall lie in the same bed he has sometimes been contented with, and have such country entertainment as my friends sometimes accept, and be as welcome, too, as the best friend of them all.

;

VIAT. No doubt, sir, but my master Walton found good reason to be satisfied with his entertainment in your house for you who are so friendly to a mere stranger, who deserves so little, must needs be exceeding kind and free to him who deserves so much.

PISC. Believe me, no: and such as are intimately acquainted with that gentleman know him to be a man who will not endure to be treated like a stranger. So that his acceptation of my poor entertainment has ever been a pure effect of his own humility, and good-nature, and nothing else. But, sir, we are now going down the Spittle Hill, into the town; and therefore let me importune you suddenly to resolve, and most earnestly not to deny me.

VIAT. In truth, sir, I am so overcome by your bounty, that I find I cannot, but must render myself wholly to be disposed of by you.

PISC. Why, that's heartily and kindly spoken, and I as heartily thank you; and, being you have abandoned yourself to my conduct, we will only call and drink a glass on horseback at the Talbot, and away.

VIAT. I attend you. But what pretty river is this, that runs under this stone bridge? Has it a name?

PISC. Yes, 'tis called Henmore, and has in it both trout and grayling; but you will meet with one or two better And so soon as we are past through the town, I will endeavour, by such discourse as best likes you, to pass away the time till you come to your ill quarters.

anon.

VIAT. We can talk of nothing with which I shall be more delighted than of rivers and angling.

PISC. Let those be the subjects, then; but we are now come to the Talbot. What will you drink, sir, ale or wine?

VIAT. Nay, I am for the country liquor, Derbyshire ale, if you please; for a man should not, methinks, come from London to drink wine in the Peak.

PISC. You are in the right; and yet, let me tell you, you may drink worse French wine in many taverns in London, than they have sometimes at this house. What ho! bring us a flagon of your best ale; and now, sir, my service to you, a good health to the honest gentleman you know of, and you are welcome into the Peak.

VIAT. I thank you, sir, and present you my service again, and to all the honest brothers of the angle.

PISC. I'll pledge you, sir: so, there's for your ale, and farewell. Come, sir, let us be going, for the sun grows low, and I would have you look about you as you ride; for you will see an odd country, and sights that will seem strange to you.

Observations of the principal rivers in Derbyshire; Viator lodges at Piscator Junior's House.

and

ISC. So, sir, now we have got to the top of
the hill out of town, look about
tell me how you like the country.

you,

VIAT. Bless me, what mountains are here! Are we not in Wales?

PISC. No, but in almost as mountainous

a country; and yet these hills, though high, bleak, and craggy, breed and feed good beef and mutton, above ground, and afford good store of lead within.

VIAT. They had need of all those commodities to make amends for the ill landskip: but I hope our way does not lie over any of these, for I dread a precipice.

PISC. Believe me, but it does, and down one, especially, that will appear a little terrible to a stranger: though the