of the art, and in praise of angling; and doubtless he had done so if death had not prevented him; the remembrance of which hath often made me sorry; for if he had lived to do it, then the unlearned angler had seen some better treatise of this art, a treatise that might have proved worthy his perusal, which, though some have undertaken, I could never yet see in English.

;

But mine may be thought as weak and as unworthy of common view and I do here freely confess, that I should rather excuse myself than censure others, my own discourse being liable to so many exceptions; against which you, sir, might make one, that it can contribute nothing to your knowledge. And, lest a longer epistle may diminish your pleasure, I shall make this no longer than to add this following truth, that I am, really, sir, your most affectionate friend, and most humble servant,

IZAAK WALTON.

TO

ALL READERS OF THIS DISCOURSE,

BUT ESPECIALLY

TO THE HONEST ANGLER.

I THINK fit to tell thee these following truths, that I did neither undertake, nor write, nor publish, and much less own, this discourse to please myself and having been too easily drawn to do all to please others, as I propose not the gaining of credit by this undertaking, so 1 would not willingly lose any part of that to which I had a just title before I begun it, and do therefore desire and hope, if I deserve not commendations, yet I may obtain pardon.

And though this discourse may be liable to some exceptions, yet I cannot doubt but that most readers may receive so much pleasure or profit by it, as may make it worthy the time of their perusal, if they be not too grave or too busy men. And this is all the confidence that I can put on, concerning the merit of what is here offered to their consideration and censure; and if the last prove too severe, as I have a liberty, so I am resolved to use it, and neglect all sour censures,

And I wish the reader also to take notice, that in writing of it, I have made myself a recreation of a recreation; and that it might prove so to him, and not read dull and tediously, I have in several places mixed, not my scurrility, but some innocent, harmless mirth, of which, if thou be a

severe, sour complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge; for divines say, there are offences given, and offences not given, but taken.

And I am the willinger to justify the pleasant part of it, because though it is known I can be serious at all seasonable times, yet the whole discourse is, or rather was, a picture of my own disposition, especially in such days and times as I have laid aside business, and gone a-fishing with honest Nat. and R. Roe; but they are gone, and with them most of my pleasant hours, even as a shadow that passeth away, and returns not.

And next let me add this, that he that likes not the book, should like the excellent picture of the Trout, and some of the other fish; which I may take a liberty to commend, because they concern not myself.

Next let me tell the reader, that in that which is the more useful part of this discourse, that is to say, the observations of the nature and breedng, and seasons, and catching of fish, I am not so simple as not to know, that a captious reader may find exceptions against something said of some of these; and therefore I must entreat him to consider, that experience teaches us to know that several countries alter the time, and I think, almost the manner, of fishes' breeding, but doubtless of their being in season; as may appear by three rivers in Monmouthshire, namely, Severn, Wye, and Usk, where Camden, Brit. f. 633, observes, that in the river Wye salmon are in season from September to April; and we are certain, that in Thames and Trent, and in most other rivers, they be in season the six hotter months.

Now for the art of catching fish, that is to say, how to make a man that was none, to be an angler by a book; he that undertakes it, shall undertake a harder task than Mr Hales, a most valiant and excellent fencer, who, in a printed book called "A Private School of Defence,” undertook to teach that art or science, and was laughed at for his labour. Not but that many useful things might be learned by that book; but he was laughed at because that art was not to be taught by words, but practice and so must angling. And note also, that in this discourse I do not undertake to say all that is known, or may be said of it, but I undertake to acquaint the reader with many things that are not usually known to every angler; and I shall leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the experience of all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall encourage them. For angling may be said to be so like the mathematics, that it can never be fully learnt; at least not so fully, but that there will still be more new experiments left for the trial of other men that succeed us.

* These persons are supposed to have been related to Walton, from the circumstance of a copy, handed down, of his Lives of Donne, Sir H. Wotton, Hooker, and Herbert, wherein is written by the author on the frontispiece For my Cousin Roe.

But I think all that love this game may here learn something that may be worth their money, if they be not poor and needy men: and in case they be, I then wish them to forbear to buy it; for I write not to get money, but for pleasure, and this discourse boasts of no more; for I hate to promise much, and deceive the reader.

And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found a high content in the search and conference of what is here offered to the reader's view and censure: I wish him as much in the perusal of it, and so I might here take my leave; but will stay a little and tell him, that whereas it is said by many, that in fly-fishing for a trout, the angler must observe his twelve several flies for the twelve months of the year, — I say, he that follows that rule shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise as he that makes hay by the fair days in an almanack, and no surer; for those very flies that used to appear about and on the water in one month of the year, may, the following year, come almost a month sooner or later, as the same year proves colder or hotter: and yet, in the following Discourse, I have set down the twelve flies that are in reputation with many anglers; and they may serve to give him some observations concerning them. And he may note, that there are in Wales, and other countries, peculiar flies, proper to the particular place or country; and, doubtless, unless a man makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly in that place, he is like to lose his labour, or much of it; but for the generality, three or four flies, neat and rightly made, and not too big, serve for a trout in most rivers all the summer; and for winter fly-fishing, is as useful as an almanack out of date. And of these, because as no man is born an artist, so no man is born an angler, I thought fit to give thee this notice.

When I have told the reader, that in this fifth impression there are many enlargements, gathered both by my own observation, and the communication with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to wish him a rainy evening to read this following discourse; and that, if he be an honest angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a-fishing.

I. W.

The fifth, as it is the last of the editions published in the author's lifetime, has been carefully followed in the present publication. See the Author's Life

COMMENDATORY VERSES.

TO MY DEAR BROTHER, IZAAK WALTON,

UPON HIS COMPLETE ANGLER.

ERASMUS, in his learned Colloquies,
Has mix'd some toys, that, by varieties,
He might entice all readers: for in him
Each child may wade, or tallest giant swim.
And such is this discourse: there's none so low,
Or highly learn'd, to whom hence may not flow
Pleasure and information; both which are
Taught us with so much art, that I might swear
Safely, the choicest critic cannot tell

Whether your matchless judgment most excel
In angling or its praise; where commendation
First charms, then makes an art a recreation.

'Twas so to me; who saw the cheerful spring
Pictured in every meadow; heard birds sing
Sonnets in every grove; saw fishes play
In the cool crystal streams, like lambs in May:
And they may play, till anglers read this book;
But after, 'tis a wise fish 'scapes a hook.

Jo. FLOUD, Master of Arts

TO THE READER OF THE COMPLETE ANGLER.

FIRST, mark the title well: my friend that gave it
Has made it good; this book deserves to have it;
For he that views it with judicious looks,
Shall find it full of art, baits, lines, and hooks.
The world the river is; both you and I,
And all mankind, are either fish or fry.
If we pretend to reason, first or last,

His baits will tempt us, and his hooks hold fast.
Pleasure or profit, either prose or rhyme,
If not at first, will doubtless take in time.
Here sits, in secret, bless'd Theology,
Waited upon by grave Philosophy-
Both natural and moral; History,
Deck'd and adorn'd with flowers of Poetry,
The matter and expression striving which
Shall most excel in worth, yet not seem rich.
There is no danger in his baits; that hook
Will prove the safest that is surest took.

For are we caught alone, but, which is best.
We shall be wholesome, and be toothsome dress'd;
Dress'd to be fed, not to be fed upon:

And danger of a surfeit here is none.
The solid food of serious contemplation
Is sauced here, with such harmless recreation,
That an ingenuous and religious mind
Cannot inquire for more than it may find
Ready at once prepared, either t' excite
Or satisfy a curious appetite.

More praise is due: for 'tis both positive
And truth, which once was interrogative,
And utter'd by the poet, then, in jest,
Et piscatorem piscis amare potest.

CH. HARVIE, Master of Arts.

TO MY DEAR FRIEND, MR IZAAK WALTON,

IN PRAISE OF ANGLING, WHICH WE BOTH LOVE.

Down by this smooth stream's wandering side,
Adorn'd and perfumed with the pride

Of Flora's wardrobe, where the shrill

Aerial choir express their skill,

First, in alternate melody,

And then in chorus all agree.

Whilst the charm'd fish, as ecstasied

With sounds, to his own throat denied,2
Scorns his dull element, and springs
I' th' air, as if his fins were wings.

'Tis here that pleasures sweet and high
Prostrate to our embraces lie:
Such as to body, soul, or fame,
Create no sickness, sin, or shame :
Roses, not fenced with pricks, grow here;
No sting to th' honey bag is near:
But, what's perhaps their prejudice,
They difficulty want and price.

An obvious rod, a twist of hair,
With hook hid in an insect, are
Engines of sport would fit the wish
O' th' epicure, and fill his dish.

In this clear stream let fall a grub,
And straight take up a dace or chub.
I' th' mud, your worm provokes a snig,
Which being fast, if it prove big,
The Gotham folly will be found
Discreet, ere ta'en she must be drown'd.
The tench, physician of the brook,

In yon dead hole expects your hook:

Supposed to be Christopher Harvie, for whom see Athen. Oxon. vol. L et vide infra, chap. v.