xxxviii LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. [1646, 



occasion) commixtures of heavenly and earthly thoughts. You are there- 

 fore requested to fancy him cast by fortune into the company of some yet 

 unknown shepherds, and you have a liberty to believe 'twas by this follow- 

 ing accident. 



"He in a summer's morning (about that hour when the great eye of 

 heaven first opens itself to give light to us mortals), walking a gentle pace 

 towards a brook (whose spring-head was not far distant from his peaceful 

 habitation), fitted with angle, lines, and flies ; flies proper for that season 

 (being the fruitful month of May), intending all diligence to beguile the 

 timorous trout (with which the watery element abounded), observed a more 

 than common concourse of Shepherds, all bending their unwearied steps 

 towards a pleasant meadow within his present prospect, and had his eyes 

 made more happy to behold the two fair Shepherdesses, Amaryllis and 

 Aminta, strewing the footpaths with lilies and ladysmocks, so newly 

 gathered by their fair hands, that they yet smelt more sweet than the 

 morning, and immediately met (attended with Clora, Clorinda, and many 

 other wood-nymphs) the fair and virtuous Parthenia ; who, after a cour- 

 teous salutation and inquiry of his intended journey, told him the neigh- 

 bour Shepherds of that part of Arcadia had dedicated that day to be kept 

 holy to the honour of their god Pan ; and that they had designed her 

 mistress of a love-feast, which was to be kept that present day, in an arbour 

 built that morning for that purpose. She told him also that Orpheus 

 would be there and bring his harp, Pan his pipe, and Tityrus his oaten 

 reed, to make music at this feast ; she therefore persuaded him, not to 

 lose, but change that day's pleasure ; before he could return an answer, 

 they were unawares entered into a living moving lane, made of Shepherds 

 and Pilgrims, who had that morning measured many miles to be the eye- 

 witnesses of that day's pleasure. This lane led them into a large arbour, 

 whose walls were made of the yielding willow and smooth beech boughs, 

 and covered over with sycamore leaves and honeysuckles. I might now 

 tell in what manner (after her first entrance into this arbour) Philoclea 

 (Philoclea, the fair Arcadian Shepherdess) crowned her temples with a 

 garland, with what flowers, and by whom it was made ; I might tell what 

 guests (besides Astrea and Adonis) were at this feast ; and who (besides 

 Mercury) waited at the table, this I might tell: but may not, cannot 

 express what music the Gods and Wood-Nymphs made within ; and the 

 linnets, larks, and nightingales about this arbour during this holy day; 

 which began in harmless mirth, and (for Bacchus and his gang were 

 absent) ended in love and peace, which Pan (for he only can do it) continue 

 in Arcadia, and restore to the disturbed island of Britannia, and grant that 

 each honest Shepherd may again sit under his own vine and fig-tree, and 

 feed his own flock, and with love enjoy the fruits of peace, and be more 

 thankful. 



" Reader, at this time and place, the author contracted a friendship with 

 certain single-hearted Shepherds, with whom (as he returned from his river 

 recreations) he often rested himself; and, whilst in the calm evening their 

 flocks fed about them, heard their discourse, which (with the Shepherds' 

 names) is presented in these Eclogues. 



" A friend of the author's wished me to tell thee so ; this 23d of Novem- 

 ber 1645. Jo: MARRIOT." 



About the year 1646 Walton again married. His second wife 



