244 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



Then here I'll sit, and sigh my hot love's folly, 



And learn t' affect a holy melancholy : 

 And if contentment be a stranger, then 

 I'll ne'er look for it, but in heaven, again. 



VEN. Well, master, these verses be worthy to keep a 

 room in every man's memory. I thank you for them ; 

 and I thank you for your many instructions, which (God 

 willing) I wiU not forget. And as St. Austin, in his 

 Confessions (book iv. chap. 3) commemorates the kindness 

 of his friend Verecundus, for lending him and his com- 

 panion a country house ; because there they rested and 

 enjoyed themselves, free from the troubles of the world : 

 so, having had the like advantage, both by your conversa- 

 tion and the art you have taught me, I ought ever to do 

 the like ; for, indeed, your company and discourse have 

 been so useful and pleasant, that, I may truly say, I have 

 only lived since I enjoyed them and turned angler, and 

 not before. Nevertheless, here I must part with you, 

 here in this now sad place where I was so happy as first 

 to meet you : but I shall long for the ninth of May ; for 

 then I hope again to enjoy your beloved company, at the 

 appointed time and place. And now I wish for some 

 somniferous potion, that might force me to sleep away 

 the intermitted time, which will pass away with me as 

 tediously, as it does with men in sorrow ; nevertheless 

 I will make it as short as I can by my hopes and wishes. 

 And, my good master, I will not forget the doctrine which 

 you told me Socrates taught his scholars, that they should 

 not think to be honoured so much for being philosophers, 

 as to honour philosophy by their virtuous lives. You 

 advised me to the like concerning angling, and I will 

 endeavour to do so ; and to live like those many worthy 

 men, of which you made mention in the former part of 

 your discourse. This is my firm resolution ; and as a 

 pious man advised his friend, that to beget mortification 

 he should frequent churches, and view monuments, and 



