Walton 



ing inspiration of The Complete Angler was 

 no doubt, often present within him on 

 those days of travel ; but it was only after 

 the close of his London career and his 

 retiring from active life that we may sup- 

 pose its idea actually to have developed. 

 " I confess/' he says, in the opening pages 

 of the work, " my discourse " (as he calls 



it) "is like 



THE AN<; LEU'S SONG. 



The Angler's Song, with the Original Music. 

 275 



to prove 

 suitable t o 

 my recrea- 

 tion, calm 

 and quiet" 

 blessings 

 more likely 

 to be found 

 in the green 

 lanes of 

 Stafford- 

 shire than 

 anywhere 

 else. The 

 neighbor- 

 hood of his 

 native town 

 was not 

 only admi- 

 rably adapt- 

 ed for pro- 



