250 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



that keep those riches, hang often so heavily at the 

 rich man's girdle, that they clog him with weary 

 days, and restless nights, even when others sleep 

 quietly. We see hut the outside of the rich man's 

 happiness : few consider him to he like the silk- 

 worm, that, when she seems to play, is, at the very 

 same time, spinning her own bowels, and consum- 

 ing herself. And this many rich men do ; loading 

 themselves with corroding cares, to keep what they 

 have, probably, unconscionably got. Let us, there- 

 fore, be thankful for health and a competence, and 

 above all, for a quiet conscience. 



Let me tell you, Scholar, that Diogenes walked 

 on a day, with his friend, to see a country-fair ; 

 where he saw ribbons, and looking-glasses, and 

 nut-crackers, and fiddles, and hobby-horses, and 

 many other gimcracks ; and having observed them, 

 and all the other finnimbruns that make a complete 

 country-fair ; he said to his friend, " Lord ! How 

 " many things are there in this world, of which 

 " Diogenes hath no need ! " And truly it is so, or 

 might be so, with very many who vex and toil them- 

 selves to get what they have no need of. Can any 

 man charge God, that he hath not given him enough 

 to make his life happy ? No, doubtless ; for nature 

 is content with a little. And yet you shall hardly 

 meet with a man that complains not of some want ; 

 though he, indeed, wants nothing but his will, it 

 may be, nothing but his will of his poor neighbour, 

 for not worshipping, or not flattering him : and 



