_Viat_. Why Sir, I pray, of what Fraternity are you, that you are so angry with the poor _Otter_? _Pisc_. I am a Brother of the _Angle_, and therefore an enemy to the _Otter_, he does me and my friends so much mischief; for you are to know, that we _Anglers_ all love one another: and therefore do I hate the _Otter_ perfectly, even for their sakes that are of my Brotherhood. _Viat_. Sir, to be plain with you, I am sorry you are an _Angler_: for I have heard many grave, serious men pitie, and many pleasant men scoff at _Anglers_. _Pisc_. Sir, There are many men that are by others taken to be serious grave men, which we contemn and pitie; men of sowre complexions; mony-getting-men, that spend all their time first in getting, and next in anxious care to keep it: men that are condemn'd to be rich, and alwayes discontented, or busie. For these poor-rich-men, wee Anglers pitie them; and stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think our selves happie: For (trust me, Sir) we enjoy a contentednesse above the reach of such dispositions. And as for any scoffer, _qui mockat mockabitur_. Let mee tell you, (that you may tell him) what the wittie French-man [the Lord Mountagne in his Apol. for Ra-Se-bond.] sayes in such a Case. _When my_ Cat _and I entertaine each other with mutuall apish tricks (as playing with a garter,) who knows but that I make her more sport then she makes me? Shall I conclude her simple, that has her time to begin or refuse sportivenesse as freely as I my self have? Nay, who knows but that our agreeing no better, is the defect of my not understanding her language? (for doubtlesse Cats talk and reason with one another) and that shee laughs at, and censures my folly, for making her sport, and pities mee for understanding her no better?_ To this purpose speaks _Mountagne_ concerning _Cats_: And I hope I may take as great a libertie to blame any Scoffer, that has never heard what an Angler can say in the justification of his Art and Pleasure. But, if this satisfie not, I pray bid the Scoffer put this Epigram into his pocket, and read it every morning for his breakfast (for I wish him no better;) Hee shall finde it fix'd before the Dialogues of _Lucian_ (who may be justly accounted the father of the Family of all _Scoffers_:) And though I owe none of that Fraternitie so much as good will, yet I have taken a little pleasant pains to make such a conversion of it as may make it the fitter for all of that Fraternity. Lucian _well skill'd in_ scoffing, _this has writ, Friend, that's your folly which you think your wit; This you vent oft, void both of wit and fear, Meaning an other, when your self you jeer_. But no more of the _Scoffer_; for since _Solomon_ sayes, he is an abomination to men, he shall be so to me; and I think, to all that love _Vertue_ and _Angling_.