INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xxi 



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 

 judge me too bold : if you do, I will say so too ; and so far com- 

 mute for my offence,that, though I be more than a hundred miles 

 from you, and in the eighty-third year of my age, yet I will forget 

 both, and next month begin a pilgrimage to beg your pardon; for 

 I would die in your favour ; and till then will live, Sir, 



Your most affectionate Father and Friend, 



London, n Pa Bi 



April 29th, 1676. ^^ ^^Afor^ 



With this enlarged edition also, appeared, for the 

 first time, the following beautiful verses, exhibiting 

 as favourable a specimen of Cotton's poetical powers, 

 as his whole works could supply. 



THE RETIREMENT. 



IRREGULAR STANZAS, 

 ADDRESSED TO 



MR. IZAAK WALTON. 



JO arewell thou busy world ! and may 



We never meet again : 

 Here I can eat, and sleep, and pray, 

 And do more good in one short day, 

 Than he, who his whole age out wears 

 Upon the most conspicuous theatres, 

 Where nought but vanity and vice do reign. 



