every angler muft needs be bleft with a hopeful and patient difpofition, fince he may sometimes look to come home as he went forth, that is to fay, with an empty pannier

Painter. As the reward of his patience! Well, patience is an herb, they say, makes a ' good boiled fallad:' why, Sir, an angler need to be 'Patience on a monument,' that he may fit filently by the river, and look down at nothing but his float.

Angler. Well! I give you leave to cenfure, fince you know none of those sweet pleasures that attend on angling: and I remit you to Mr. Izaak Walton, 'that dear lover and frequent practicer of my art,' for many clear reafons and examples to prove that it may be efteemed one of the moft honeft and commendable recreations a gentleman can practise.

Painter. A hopeful entertainment, truly! Nevertheless, I cannot but smile at your dumpish anglers that wait fo meekly for their fortunes, as to seem fixed with all the gravity of fculptured images on the margin of their ftreams.

Angler. So, fo! good brother, you may smile and wonder too; nay, I will laugh with you, and after that will not be afhamed to confefs how I am poffeffed with a constant love of

my gentle craft. But for the present let me bring your thoughts towards the Dove, near to Uttoxeter.

Painter. Aye, let us hear more of that; made some contemplative trial of the

then you trouts?

Angler. But it was all in vain; for the wind was contrary, and they took no liking to my flies, and so I miffed my sport: but I hope for better acceptance the next time I go a-courting that way.

your

Painter. Then I beseech you, gentle Mr. Angler, how did you pass the hours, fince the trouts, out of their coyness, declined from acquaintance? If I might conjecture, you straightway fell into a confideration of Master Izaak Walton's praise of fishes and fishing.

Angler. And if I did? Give me leave to tell you, he hath set forth the delights of this recreation with fuch refined and ingenuous arguments, as to persuade many a man to become a fisher, who was before very averse to it. Nay, I fhall hope to make you put on new thoughts of angling before we part company; for, of all men, limners have most cause to love my art, seeing they may recline by the fide of a lake or river, and leave their angle-rods 'to fish for themselves,' and this Mr. Walton de

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clares, and truly, to be 'like putting money to 'ufe; for then these angle-rods work for the owners when they do nothing but fleep, or 'eat, or rejoice'

Painter. Or paint pictures!

Angler. Even fo: and I may declare to you I have seen fuch pleasant prospects of woodlands, and rivers, and streams, that have flowed along the valleys and through many a mead in England, when I have been a-fishing, as the beft limner might defire to look at; and yet not be able to imitate with all his daintiness of hand. And some of these I made a discovery of, within a little mile or two round Uttoxeter, by the banks of the Dove; for seeing I was not like to fish to profit, I confidered within myself what I should do; and after a while I refolved to examine into those parts of the river, and fo be admitted into a more familiar acquaintance with its landskips.

Painter. Well thought; and I declare to you I am ready to efteem it my lofs that I was not in your company.

Angler. There are many parts thereabouts would have touched you mightily: for nature, that is fo excellent an artificer, hath contrived her works on either fide the river with a most unimitable difpofition and fkilfulness. And

you are to note, the river I fpeak of is the Dove;

'Whose dainty grasse,

"That grows upon her banks, all other doth surpasse,'

as old Michael Drayton* declares: and thereabouts I found the Churnet, that gives her the contribution of its streams, and is contented to receive nothing from her in exchange but her fpeckled trouts,-and this for the fweet fatisfaction of an attendance upon her, till her efpoufals with the Trent below Eggington. Then I may not omit to mention that pleasant river the Blythe, whofe fountains fpring up near to the ancient caftel' of Caverfwall, gathering ftrength as fhe flows along by the Earl of Derby's great park and Castle of Chartley, and

then

'Bears easey down tow'rds her deere soveraign Trent.'

Painter. Blythe! the very name is full of promise; and I doubt not her banks are lined with profpects of mountains and vales.

Angler. All variegated with moorlands and woodlands ;-fuch alluring scenes for an angler or a painter, and fo decked by nature's hand as to be little spots of enchantment, which caused

* Drayton's Polyolbion: Song 12, p. 207,—ED.

me a double forrow that you were not my fellow traveller: and I refolved I would fome time or other see those landskips again, if it should please God to let me live long enough, and give me the diversion of some leisurable days.

Painter. Your commendations of the Dove inflame my defires to make acquaintance with her streams; and I rejoice that I am now like to do this in your company; and I beseech you tell me fomething more of the Churnet, that joins itself thereabouts to the Dove.

Angler. That would I willingly, if time might serve; but we are come within fight of Brailsford.

Painter. Then make me this promise, that we may beguile fome future hours together by those lower paffages of the Dove, and see where she discharges herself into the Trent.

Angler. Let that be a match between us; and I promise you nothing can be pleasanter for an artist than the lights and fhadows of their umbrageous banks, and the pastures, and lowing herds by the river, and the native cascades and rocks, and the peaceful villages with antient churches, that lend their aid to the composure of those retired profpects.

Painter. How did you call this pleasant looking place we are come to?