286 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Ven. Well, master, these verses be worthy to 

 keep a room in every man's memory. I thank 

 you for them ; and I thank you for your many 

 instructions, which, God willing, I will not forget. 

 And as Saint Austin, in his Confessions, Book IV. 

 Chap. 3, commemorates the kindness of his friend 

 Verecundus, for lending him and his companion a 

 country-house, because there they rested and en- 

 joyed themselves free from the troubles of the 

 world ; so, having had the like advantage, both by 

 your conversation and the art you have taught me, 

 I ought ever to do the like : for indeed your com- 

 pany and discourse have been so useful and pleas- 

 ant that I may truly say I have only lived since I 

 enjoyed them and turned angler, and not before. 

 Nevertheless, here I must part with you, here in 

 this now sad place, where I was so happy as first 

 to meet you. But I shall long for the ninth 

 of May, for then I hope again to enjoy your be- 

 loved company at the appointed time and place. 

 And now I wish for some somniferous potion, 

 that might force me to sleep away the intermitted 

 time, which will pass away with me as tediously as 

 it does with men in sorrow ; nevertheless I will 

 make it as short as I can, by my hopes and 

 wishes. And, my good master, I will not forget 

 the doctrine which you told me Socrates taught 

 his scholars, that they should not think to be hon- 

 ored so much for being philosophers as to honor 

 philosophy by their virtuous lives. You advised 

 me to the like concerning angling, and I will en- 



