A CONFERENCE BETWIXT AN ANGLER, A FALCONER, CHAPTER I. PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS.* PISCATOR. You 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 VARIATION. [Where not otherwise marked all the variations are in the first edition, 1653, in which the dialogue is between two persons, namely, Piscator and Viator.] Piscator. You are well overtaken, Sir; a good morning to you; I have stretched my legs up Totnam Hill to overtake you, hoping your business may occasion you towards Ware, this fine pleasant fresh May-day in the morning. There is so striking a resemblance between the commencement of the first edition of "The Complete Angler," and the opening of "A Treatise of the Nature of God," 12mo, 1599, that it is almost certain it was the model of Walton's work. The conversation in that Treatise is between a "Gentleman" and a "Scholar," and commences thus: "Gent. Well overtaken, Sir! Scholar. You are welcome, Gentleman! Gent. No great gentleman, Sir; but one that wisheth well to all that mean well. I pray you, how far do you travel this way? Scholar. As far as York. Gent. I should be glad, if I might have your company thither. Scholar. And I, if my company might stand you in any stead; but howsoever it be, you may command it; and, by vouchsafing me the benefit of your company, make me much beholden to you," &c. Many other parts of the Treatise appear to have been imitated both by Walton and Cotton. you towards Ware, whither I am going this fine fresh May morning. 2 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 Hoddesden; 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 Theobalds, and there leave you; for then I turn up to a friend's house, who mews a Hawk for me,* which I now long to see. VENATOR. 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 others' 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."+ AUCEPS. It may do, 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. VENATOR. And, Sir, I promise the like. PISCATOR. 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 he is going to see a hawk, that a friend mews for him. VARIATION. Viator. Sir, I shall almost answer your hopes: for my purpose is to be at Hoddesden, three miles short of that town, I will not say, before I drink, but before I break my fast: for I have appointed a friend or two to meet me there at the Thatched House, about nine of the clock this morning; and that made me so early up, and indeed, to walk so fast. Piscator. Sir, I know the Thatched House very well: I often make it my restingplace, and taste a cup of ale there, for which liquor that place is very remarkable; and to that house I shall, by your favour, accompany you, and either abate of my pace or mend it, to enjoy such a companion as you seem to be, knowing that, as the Italians say, Good company makes the way seem the shorter. "Mew is that place, whether it be abroad or in the house, where you set down your Hawk, during the time that she raiseth her feathers."-Latham. † Compagno allegro per camino ti serve per roncino. |