CHAPTER VII 



THE FISHING-HOUSE 



" Methinks I see Charles Cotton and his friend, 

 The modest Walton, from Augusta's Town, 

 Enter the fishing-house, an hour to spend. 

 And by the marble table set them down."i 



" Now we sit to chat." 



Taming of the Shrevt. 



In 1676 Cotton finished building the celebrated 

 little fishing - house, dedicated to anglers, "my 

 seat's best grace," as he calls it — on the margin 

 of the River Dove — " Princess of Rivers," near 

 to his house, Beresford Hall. Mr Edwards (the 

 Poet of the Dove as he has been called), after 

 describing the beauties of " Beresford's enchanting 

 glen," very finely writes : — 



"Enough, methinks, is told of Nature's grace 

 Poured freely on this stream, to anglers dear, 

 Diviner worth has sanctified the place. 

 That Fishing-House amid those firs which rear 

 Their tops above it, leads me to revere 

 The seal of Friendship warm as filial love. 

 Twined in one cypher, on the first appear 



^ See A Journey to Beresford Hall, by W. Alexander. 

 69 



