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to him, an angler must have all the virtues under the sun. As for his deceit, says he, it worketh not upon men, but upon. the creatures whom it is lawful to beguile.' He must have the four cardinal virtues, and many more. He must be a general scholar, to write of his art, and have sweetness of speech, to entice others; strength of argument, to defend his profession against envy and slander; knowledge of the sunne, moon, and starres, to know of weather; geography and geometry, to know the country and rivers; musicke, that whensoever eyther the melancholy heaviness of his thought, or the perturbacyons of his owne fancies shrink up sadnesse in him, he may remove the same, with some godly hymn or anthem.'

"I fear to tire you," continued Heart free; "but the virtues to come are best of all, for our angler must have a well-settled and constant belief to enjoy the benefit of his expectation. You see here is an absolute lesson on Faith. But farther, he must feel love both to his pleasure and his neighbour; to the latter, that he may neither give offence, nor be guilty of any general destruction.'

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I wish the poachers would learn this," observed Heartfree, commenting upon it.

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Then he must be patient, humble, not minding wet or dirt; strong and valiant, not to be

frightened or amazed with storms or thunder, but to hold them according to their natural causes, and the pleasure of the highest.'

"Here you see," said Heartfree, again pursuing his comment, he must be a natural philosopher, and resigned to the will of heaven. But he must also be liberal, not working for his own belly, as if it could never be satisfied; but with much cheerfulnesse bestow the fruits of his skill among his honest neighbours.'

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There," said Heartfree, closing the book, "I think I have read you enough to show that we simple folk, the sportsmen, particularly the lovers of the rod, have no occasion either for a bishop or philosopher to amend our seemingly idle life and if half what Gervase says be true, I would advise you, young as you are, to abandon your London strivings, to take up your rod, and follow me."

"If I may judge of the happiness of your life," said I," or the health both of body and soul which it has given you, I am quite sure I could not do better; but I have neither your genius, your skill, nor your decision of mind. Hitherto, indeed, I may be said to have fooled away my

life."

"I hope not," he replied; "but at least you have got a good deal of it still before you. I

suppose, however, you are too rich for a profession; if so, make one for yourself, or you will grow rusty; which at yours, or indeed any age, is bad."

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Agreed," said I; " for an idle youth makes a querulous old man; and I think business, whether voluntary or involuntary, good for the health, both of body and mind."

"With that opinion," he replied, "you will do. Are you in parliament?"

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You have, undoubtedly, been in love?"
Fifty times!"

"Then you have surely not wanted business." I have had enough of it," said I, “and am retired."

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May I ask what is your present pursuit?"
Mankind."

"I thought," said he, "from your age and your answers, it might have been woman-kind."

"I am not particular," I said; "for it is my species I wish to be acquainted with; I therefore study both."

"What! not with woman-
n-kind?"

"To be sure," I replied, "they flourish there as in a hot-bed."

"And, as in all hot-beds, I suppose, the fruit

is forced."

"Something very like it," I returned; "but in the country I hope to find a natural garden. I observe you have no hot-beds in yours, yet your productions are excellent.”

Heartfree smiled, and hoped that my natural garden might answer expectation.

SECTION IV.

A JUSTICE HALL, AND COUNTRY REFORMER.

"Will you permit that I shall stand condemned a wandering vagabond ?"

RICHARD II.

Ar that moment we observed a group of five or six men and women advancing into the courtyard, and heard them ask if his Worship was at leisure.

"It is my constable," said Heartfree; "this is my day for Justice business; and as your game is men and women, perhaps we may start some for you." So saying, he fitted himself to the magisterial chair, and began the usual examinations.

The real complainant was an old man, who had brought up the blacksmith of a neighbouring parish to answer for an assault upon his wife; in effect, for forcing a kiss from her in the open

street.