ii8 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 

 But hear his own words — 



The Angler's Wish 



I in these flowery meads would be, 

 These cr}'Stal streams should solace me, 

 To whose harmonious bubbling noise 

 I with my angle would rejoice, 

 Sit here and see the turtle dove, 

 Court his chaste mate to acts of love : 

 Or on that bank, feel the west wind, 

 Breathe health and plenty ; please my mind 

 To see sweet dewdrops kiss these flowers, 

 And then, wash'd off by April showers ; 

 Here hear my Kenna sing a song ; 

 There see a blackbird feed her young, 

 Or a leverock build her nest ; 

 Here give my weary spirits rest. 

 And raise my low-pitch'd thoughts above 

 Earth, or what poor mortals love ; 

 Thus free from lawsuits and the noise 

 Of princes' courts I would rejoice, 

 Or with my Bryan and a book 

 Loiter long days by Shawford brook,i 

 There sit by him and eat my meat. 

 There see the sun both rise and set ; 

 There bid good morning to next day, 

 There meditate my time away. 

 And angle on, and beg to have 

 A quiet passage to a welcome grave. 



^ Apart from Mr. Bowles's "Traditional Authority" (see 

 Part I. Chap, iv.) there is no direct evidence that Walton 

 ever did reside in a cottage near Stafford except as an 



