xxvi The Complete Angler 



As an example of Walton's style, take the famous 

 vision of Dr. Donne in Paris. He had left his wife 

 expecting her confinement : 



' Two days after their arrival there, Mr. Donne was left alone 

 in that room in which Sir Robert and he, and some other friends, 

 had dined together. To this place Sir Robert returned within half 

 an hour, and as he left, so he found Mr. Donne alone, but in such 

 an ecstacy, and so altered as to his looks, as amazed Sir Robert to 

 behold him ; insomuch that he earnestly desired Mr. Donne to de- 

 clare what had befallen him in the short time of his absence. To 

 which Mr. Donne was not able to make a present answer : but, after 

 a long and perplexed pause, did at last say, * I have seen a dreadful 

 vision since I saw you : I have seen my dear wife pass twice by me 

 through this room, with her hair hanging about her shoulders, and 

 a dead child in her arms ; this I have seen since I saw you '. To 

 which Sir Robert replied, * Sure, sir, you have slept since I saw 

 you ; and this is the result of some melancholy dream, which I 

 desire you to forget, for you are now awake'. To which Mr. 

 Donne's reply was, * I cannot be surer that I now live than that I 

 have not slept since I saw you : and I am as sure that at her second 

 appearing she stopped, and looked me in the face, and vanished. 

 . . .' And upon examination, the abortion proved to be the same 

 day, and about the very hour, that Mr. Donne affirmed he saw 

 her pass by him in his chamber. 



" . . . And though it is most certain that two lutes, being both 

 strung and tuned to an equal pitch, and then one played upon, the 

 other, that is not touched, being laid upon a table at a fit distance, 

 will (like an echo to a trumpet) warble a faint audible harmony in 

 answer to the same tune ; yet many will not believe there is any 

 such thing as a sympathy of souls, and I am well pleased that 

 every reader do enjoy his own opinion. ..." 



He then appeals to authority, as of Brutus, St. 

 Monica, Saul, St. Peter : 



M More observations of this nature, and inferences from them, 

 might be made to gain the relation a firmer belief; but I forbear : 

 lest I, that intended to be but a relator, may be thought to be an 

 engaged person for the proving what was related to me, ... by 

 one who had it from Dr. Donne ". 



Walton was no Boswell ; worthy Boswell would 

 have cross-examined Dr. Donne himself. 

 Of dreams he writes : 



" Common dreams are but a senseless paraphrase on our waking 

 thoughts, or of the business of the day past, or are the result of our 



