Hunc cupio, hunc cupias, bone frater arundinis ix@ov; Piscis is est, et piscator, mihi credito, qualem Vel piscatorem piscis amare velit. HENRY BAYLEY, A.M. AD VIRUM OPTIMUM ET PISCATOREM PERITISSIMUM, ISAACUM WALTONUM. MAGISTER artis docte piscatoriæ, Gratum palato gobium, parvum licet, Nec sola praxis, sed theoria et tibi Nota artis hujus; unde tu simul bonus Piscator, idem et scriptor; et calami potens Varias et escas piscium, indolem et genus. Monimenta morem, vitæ et exempla optima, Dum tu profundum scribis Hookerum; et pium AD ISAACUM WALTONUM, VIRUM ET PISCATOREM OPTIMUM. ISAACE, macte hac arte piscatoriâ ; CONFERENCE BETWIXT AN ANGLER, A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER; EACH COMMENDING HIS RECREATION. [First Day.] PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS. PISCATOR. OU are well overtaken, gentlemen, a good morning to you both; I have stretched my legs up Tottenham Hill to overtake you, hoping your business may occasion you towards Ware, whither I am going this fine, fresh May morning. VENATOR. Sir, I for my part shall almost answer your hopes; for my purpose is to drink my morning's draught at the Thatched House in Hoddesdon,a and I think not to rest till I come thither, where I have appointed a friend or two to meet me but for this gentleman that you see with me, I know not how far he intends his journey; he came so lately into my company, that I have scarce had time to ask him the question. AUCEPS. Sir, I shall by your favour bear you company as far as Theobald's," and there leave you; for then I turn up to a friend's house who mews1 a hawk for me, which I now long to see. VEN. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, cool morning; and I hope we shall each be the happier in the other's company. And, gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, I shall either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it; knowing that, as the Italians say, "Good company in a journey makes the way to seem the shorter." Auc. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good discourse, which methinks we may promise from you that both look and speak so cheerfully; and for my part I promise you, as an invitation to it, that I will be as free and open-hearted as discretion will allow me to be with strangers. VEN. And, Sir, I promise the like. PISC. I am right glad to hear your answers, and in confidence you speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to ask you, Sir, whether business or pleasure caused you to be so early up, and walk so fast; for this other gentleman hath declared that he is going to see a hawk that a friend mews for him. VEN. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and |