IZAAK WALTON. 73 



special notice should be taken of this bicentenary of his 

 departure. And might not a more worthy monument be 

 raised to him within the Cathedral walls or elsewhere ? 



Even in this critical age the Complete A ngler is acknow- 

 ledged to be one of the most perfect idylls written in any 

 age or country. As Guillim is to the herald, Blackstone 

 to the legist, and Hawker to the fowler, so is Walton to 

 the disciples of the " gentle art ; " and though many of the 

 ichthyological statements in the Complete A ngler are not in 

 accordance with the modern knowledge of zoology, or its 

 angling directions a reliable guide to modern fishermen, it 

 will doubtless remain a standard English classic " for all 

 time," and the best Anglers Companion, "which age cannot 

 wither nor custom stale." The angling bibliographer and 

 poet-angler, Mr. Westwood, thus sings its praises in his 

 Lay of the Lea : — 



" Now in the noontide heat 



Here I take my seat. 

 Izaak's book beguiles the time — of Izaak's book I say, 



Never dearer page 



Gladden'd youth or age ; 

 Never sweeter soul than his bless'd the merry May. 



" For while I read, 



'Tis as if, indeed. 

 Peace and joy and gentle thoughts from each line were welling ; 



As if earth and sky 



Took a tenderer dye, 

 And as if within my heart fifty larks were trilling. 



" Ne'er should angler stroll, 



Ledger, dap, or troll, 

 Without Izaak in his pouch on the banks of Lea ; — 



Ne'er with worm or fly 



Trap the finny fry, 

 Without loving thoughts of him, and — Bencdicite .'" 



There is no need to give quotations from a book that 



