IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS loi 



" I thirst, but not as once I did, 



The vain delights of earth to share ; 

 Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid 



That I should seek my pleasures there." 



He said on the night of his induction : " I now 

 look back upon my aspiring thoughts, and think 

 myself more happy than if I had attained what 

 then I so ambitiously thirsted for.^ And I can 

 now behold the Court with an impartial eye, and 

 see plainly that it is made up of fraud and titles^ 

 and flattery, and many other such empty, imaginary 

 painted pleasures ; pleasures that are so empty, as 

 not to satisfy when they are enjoyed. But in God 

 and His services, is a fulness of all joy and 

 pleasure, and no satiety. And I will now use all 

 my endeavours to bring my relations and de- 

 pendents to a love and reliance on Him, who 

 never fails those that trust Him. But above all, I 

 will be sure to live well, because the virtuous life 

 of a clergyman is the most powerful eloquence to 

 persuade all that see it to reverence and love, and 

 at least to desire to live like Him. And this I 

 will do, because I know we live in an age 

 that hath more need of good examples than 

 precepts." 



^ " Not always turned 

 His soul to Heaven ; the splendours of the Court 

 Dazzled his youth, and the fair boundless dreams 

 Of youthful hope." 



A Visian of Saints, by Sir Lewis Morris. 



