DOVE DALE REVISITED 13! 



"To my most Honoured Friend, Charles 

 Cotton, Esq. 



u Sir, You now see, I have return'd you your 

 very pleasant, and useful discourse of the art 

 of File fishing. Printed just as 'twas sent me : 

 for I have been so obedient to your desires, as 

 to endure all the praises you have ventur'd to 

 fix upon me in it, and when I have thankt you 

 for them, as the efforts of an undissembled 

 love; then let me tell you, Sir, that I will 

 really endeavour to live up to the character 

 you have given of me, if there were no other 

 reason ; yet for this alone, that you, that love 

 me so well ; and always think what you speak 

 may not, for my sake, suffer by a mistake in 

 your judgment. 



"And, Sir, I have ventur'd to fill a part of 

 your Margin, by way of Paraphrase, for the 

 Readers clearer understanding the situation 

 both of your Fishing House and the pleasant- 

 ness of that you dwell in. And I have ventur'd 

 also to give him a Copy of Verses, that you 

 were pleas'd to send me, now some Years past ; 

 in which, he may see a good Picture of both ; 

 and, so much of your own mind too, as will 

 make any Reader that is blest with a Generous 

 Soul, to love you the better. I confess, that 

 for doing this, you may justly Judg me too 

 bold : if you da, I will say so too ; and so far 



