JET. 85.] LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. xcv 



time a man generally known, and as well beloved ; for he was humble and 

 obliging in his behaviour, a gentleman, a scholar, very innocent, and 

 prudent : and indeed his whole life was useful, quiet, and virtuous. God 

 send the story may meet with, or make, all readers like him. 



I. W. 

 May 7, 1678." 



But the most interesting part of the volume are the verses which 

 the poet Flatman addressed <l to his worthy friend, Mr Isaac 

 Walton, on the publication of this poem," because they describe 

 the venerable Walton in the happiest manner, and are beyond 

 comparison the most elegant compliment ever paid to his 

 virtues : 



" Long had the bright Thealma Iain obscure : 

 Her beauteous charms, that might the world allure, 

 Lay, like rough diamonds in the mine, unknown, 

 By all the sons of folly trampled on, 

 Till your kind hand unveil'd her lovely face, 

 And gave her vigour to exert her rays. 

 Happy o'd man 1 whose worth all mankind knows, 

 Except himself; * who charitably shows 

 The ready road to virtue and to praise. 

 The road 3 to many long and happy days, 

 The noble art of generous piety, 

 And how to compass true felicity ;* 

 Hence did he learn the art 5 ofliving well ; 

 The bright Thealma was his oracle : 

 Inspired by her, he knows no anxious cares 

 Through 6 near a century of pleasant? years ; 

 Easy he lives, and cheerful 8 shall he die, 

 Well spoken of by late posterity. 9 

 As long as Spenser's noble flames shall burn, 

 And deep devotions throng about 1 his urn ; 

 As long as Chalkhill's venerable name 

 With humble emulation shall inflame 

 Ages to come, and swell 2 the rolls of fame : 

 Your memory shall ever be secure, 

 And long beyond our short-liv'd praise endure ; 

 As Phidias in Minerva's shield did live, 

 And shar'd that immortality he alone could give. 



THO. FLATMAN. 

 June 5, 1683." 



It is not certain whether Walton resided entirely with Bishop 

 Morley after 1670, or divided his time between his son Izaak, his 

 daughter Mrs Hawkins, and the Bishop of Winchester ; but he 

 appears to have spent the Christmas of 1678 at Farnham Castle, 

 in Surrey, one of the Bishop's seats, as the following inscription in 

 a copy of the fifth edition of the "Complete Angler," which he gave 

 to Mrs Wallop, was dated there on the iQth of December in 

 that year : 



3 The following variations occur in the edition of Flatman's Poems and Songs, printed 

 in 1686. Thyself. 3 Way. * An euthanasie. 



* Skill. 8 In. 7 Happy. 8 Easy. 



On the soft bosom of eternity. Shall attend. * Posterity, and fill the. 



