xxviii LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. [1640, 



gladly undertake the employment, and continued it with great content, 

 till I had made my collection ready to be augmented and completed by 

 his matchless pen ; but then death prevented his intentions. When I 

 heard that sad news, and heard also that these sermons were to be printed 

 and want the author's life, which I thought to be very remarkable ; indig- 

 nation or grief (indeed I know not which) transported me so far, that I 

 reviewed my forsaken collections, and resolved the world should see the 

 best plain picture of the author's life that my artless pencil, guided by the 

 hand of truth, could present to it. And if I shall now be demanded, as 

 once Pompey's poor bondman was ; (the grateful wretch had been left 

 alone on the sea-shore, with the forsaken dead body of his once glorious 

 lord and master : and was then gathering the scattered pieces of an old 

 broken boat to make a funeral pile to burn it, which was the custom of the 

 Romans) 'Who art thou that alone hast the honour to bury the body of 

 Pompey the Great ? ' so, who am I that do thus officiously set the author's 

 memory on fire ? I hope the question will prove to have in it more of 

 wonder than disdain. But wonder indeed the reader may, that I, who 

 profess myself artless, should presume with my faint light to show forth 

 his life, whose very name makes it illustrious ! but be this to the disadvan- 

 tage of the person represented, certain I am it is to the advantage of the 

 beholder ; who shall here see the author's picture in a natural dress which 

 ought to beget faith in what is spoken : for he that wants skill to deceive 

 may safely be trusted. And if the author's glorious spirit, which now I** 

 in heaven, can have the leisure to look down and see me, the poorest, the 

 meanest of all his friends, in the midst of this officious duty, confident I am, 

 that he will not disdain this well-meant sacrifice to his memory : for, whilst 

 his conversation made me and many others happy below, I know his humil- 

 ity and gentleness were then eminent ; and I have heard divines say, those 

 virtues that were but sparks upon earth, become great and glorious flames 

 in heaven." 4 



The first volume of Donne's Sermons, to which his life was 

 prefixed, was published in 1640 in folio, by John Marriott, pro- 

 bably the father of the Richard Marriott who was Walton's friend 

 as well as publisher for nearly half a century. 



Walton's first essay as a biographer was highly applauded by 

 his contemporaries. King Charles the First, whose private virtues 

 and literary acquirements gave greater value to his opinion than 

 even his exalted rank, honoured it with his approbation ; 5 and 

 the learned and " ever-memorable " John Hales, who was styled 

 from his vast erudition " the walking library," told Dr King that 

 " he had not seen a life written with more advantage to the sub- 

 ject, or more reputation to the writer, than that of Dr Donne." 

 But the following letter to Walton from Donne's eldest son, 

 thanking him for having written the life of his father, and sending 



* Walton's Lives, ed. Zouch, I. pp. 37-40. 



& See Walton's Dedication of the reprint of the Life of Donne in 1658, postea. 



