Poiet.—Give us no more such instances, for I do not think it wise to diminish the love of life, or to destroy the fear of death.
Hal.—There is no danger of this. These passions are founded on immutable laws of our nature, which philosophy cannot change; and it would be good if we could give the same security of duration to the love of virtue and the fear of vice or shame, which are connected with immutable interests, and which ought to occupy far more the consideration of beings destined for immortality.—But to our business.
Now we have fish for dinner, my task is finished: Physicus and Poietes, try your skill. I have not fished over the best parts of this pool: you may catch a brace of fish here before dinner is ready.
Phys.—It is too late, and I shall go and see that all is right.
Poiet.—I will take one or two casts; but give me your fly: I like always to be sure that the tackle is taking.
Hal.—Try at first the very top of the pool,—though I fear you will get nothing there; but here is a cast which I think the Highlander can hardly have commanded from the other side, and which is rarely without a good fish. There, he rose: a large trout of 10lbs., or a salmon. Now wait a few minutes. When a fish has missed the fly, he will not rise again till after a pause—particularly if he has been for some time in the fresh water. Now try him again. He has risen, but he is a dark fish that has been some time in the water, and he tries to drown the fly with a blow of his tail. I fear you will not hook him except foul, when most likely he would break you. Try the bottom of the pool, below where I caught my fish.
Poiet.—I have tried all the casts, and nothing rises.
Hal.—Come, we will change the fly for that which I used.
Poiet.—Now I have one: he has taken the fly under water, and I cannot see him.
Hal.—Straighten your line, and we shall soon see him. He is a sea trout, but not a large one.