2 2 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



thought that its occupants would be engaged 

 in perpetual singing, and in "sweeping idle harps 

 before a throne." It is quite impossible to dis- 

 sociate Walton from his religion, as I have before 

 intimated. His character is best shown by apply- 

 ing two words to him, " distinctive " and " trans- 

 parent." " None but himself can be his parallel ; " 

 he was indeed quite a unique personage. Lowell 

 has written that Walton's "real business in this 

 world was to write the Lives and Tlie Complete 

 Angler, and to leave the example of a useful and 

 unspotted life behind him." 



