40 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 





good to others, either to serve his country, or do good to 

 particular persons. And they say also, that action is 

 doctrinal, and teaches both art and virtue, and is a 

 maintainer of human society ; and for these, and other 

 like reasons, to be preferred before contemplation. 



Concerning which two opinions, I shall forbear to add 

 a third, by declaring my own ; and rest myself contented 

 in telling you, my very worthy friend, that both these 

 meet together, and do most properly belong to the most 

 honest, ingenious, quiet, and harmless art of angling. 



And first, I shall tell you what some have observed, and 

 I have found it to be a real truth, that the very sitting 

 by the river's side is not only the quietest and fittest 

 place for contemplation, but will invite an angler to it : 

 and this seems to be maintained by the learned Peter 

 Du Moulin,* who in his discourse of the fulfilling of 

 prophecies, observes, that when God intended to reveal 

 any future events or high notions to His prophets, He then 

 carried them either to the deserts or the sea-shore, that 

 having so separated them from amidst the press of people 

 and business, and the cares of the world, He might settle 

 their mind in a quiet repose, and there make them fit for 

 revelation. 



And this seems also to be intimated by the Children of 

 Israel (Psal. cxxxvii.),f who having in a sad condition 

 banished all mirth and music from their pensive hearts, 

 and having hung up their then mute harps upon the 

 willow-trees growing by the rivers of Babylon, sat down 

 upon these banks bemoaning the ruins of Sion, and 

 contemplating their own sad condition. 



And an ingenious Spaniard says, that " rivers and the 

 inhabitants of the watery element were made for wise 



* An ancient prebendary of Canterbury, and author of several 

 pieces in the Romish controversy. H. 



t " By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, 

 when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows 

 in the midst thereof " (Psalm cxxxvii. 1, 2). 



