NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 259 



Arn. In the mean time as we travel these 

 northern tracks, give me leave to inform you of 

 the names of those flourishing rivers, and glid- 

 ing rivulets, till our eyes make a discovery of 

 the beautiful and solitary shades of Sherwood, 

 whose amorous bovvers nature her self has curi- 

 ously drest up to adorn the delightful meadows, 

 and translucid streams of the famous Trent. 

 Where we may gratify and satisfy our selves 

 with the rod, and inrich our selves with the 

 sweet progress of peace : for having the forest 

 of Sherwood on the north, the vale of Belvoir 

 on the south, and the transparent glittering 

 streams in the centre, what can we propound to 

 sweeten our recreation more, than to mingle 

 our sober thoughts with the divine prospect of 

 contemplation ? 



Theoph. I approve of your contrivance for a 

 solitary life, which gratifies and compensates both 

 labour and study. 



Arn. And will it not furnish us with argu- 

 ments against immoderate excess, and the vio- 

 lent pursuit after recreation ? Besides, it will 

 sweeten our lives with the life-touches of ver- 

 tue, and the property of such things as may best 

 conduce to the present occasion ; as also for our 

 future advantage. As for example ; when re- 

 turning from Trent triumphant with spoil, what 

 hinders us to refresh with rhetorick from Apol- 



