JET. 62.] LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. lix 



you had told me of the owner of that pleasant meadow in which 

 you then left me, that he had a plentiful estate, and not a heart 

 to think so, that he had at this time many lawsuits depending, and 

 that they both damped his mirth, and took up so much of his time 

 and thoughts, that he himself had not leisure to take the sweet 

 content that I, who pretended no title, took in his fields, for I 

 could there sit quietly, and looking on the water, see fishes leaping 

 at flies of several shapes and colours ; looking on the hills, could 

 behold them spotted with woods and groves ; looking down the 

 meadows, could see here a boy gathering lilies and ladysmocks, 

 and there a girl cropping culverkeys and cowslips, all to make 

 garlands suitable to this pleasant month of May ; these and many 

 other field-flowers so perfumed the air, that I thought this meadow 

 like the field in Sicily (of which Diodorus speaks) where the per- 

 fumes arising from the place make all dogs that hunt in it, to falL. 

 off and to lose their hottest scent. I say, as I thus sat joying in 

 mine own happy condition, and pitying the rich man's, that ought 

 this, and many other pleasant groves and meadows about me, I 

 did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, that the meek 

 possess the earth ; for indeed they are free from those high, those 

 restless thoughts and contentions which corrode the sweets of life." 

 The party agree to sing over again a catch, which Venator says 

 he had converted from " a piece of an old catch, and added more 

 to it fitting them to be sung by us Anglers ; " and he then says, 

 " Come, Master, you can sing well ; you must sing a part of it as 

 it is in this paper ; " whence it may, perhaps, be concluded that 

 Walton had acquired some reputation by his vocal powers. 

 Another cup concludes their festivities, and they retire to rest. 



On the Fifth and last day the four friends rise early, settle their 

 hostess's moderate bill, " drink a pot for their morning's draught," J 

 and separate. Peter goes with Coridon ; and Venator accompanies 

 Piscator on his return to London. During their walk Piscator 

 continues his instructions ; and on describing where the best 

 tackling might be purchased, Venator proposes to meet him on 

 the 9th of May at Charles Brandon's, near the Swan in Golden 

 Lane, as it was nearest to his residence, for the purpose of 

 equipping himself as an angler. When they reach Tottenham, 

 " they turn into an arbour," because it was a " clean and cool 

 place," where Venator "requites a part of his master's courtesies 

 with a bottle of sack, and milk, and oranges, and sugar, which all 

 put together make," he says, " a drink like nectar ; indeed too 



