218 



my little fishing-house, may be here explained : and, to permit 

 me to attend you in public, who, in private, have ever been, am, 

 and ever resolve to be, Sir, your most affectionate Son and 

 Servant, CHARLES COTTON. 



BERESFORD, iQth of March 1675-6. 



TO MY MOST HONOURED FRIEND, CHARLES 

 COTTON, ESQ. 



SIR, You now see I have returned you your very pleasant and 

 useful Discourse of the Art of Fly-fishing, printed just as it was 

 sent me ; for I have been so obedient to your desires, as to 

 endure all the praises you have ventured to fix upon me in it. 

 And when I have thanked you for them, as the effects of an 

 undissembled love, then, let me tell you, Sir, that I will really 

 endeavour to live up to the character you have given of me, if 

 there were no other reason, yet for this alone, that you, that love 

 me so well, and always think what you speak, may not, for my 

 sake, suffer by a mistake in your judgment. 



And, Sir, I have ventured to fill a part of your margin, by way 

 of paraphrase, for the reader's clearer understanding the situation 

 both of your Fishing-house, and the pleasantness of that you 

 dwell in. And I have ventured also to give him a Copy of 

 Verses that you were pleased to send me, now, some years past, 

 in which he may see a good picture of both ; and so much of 

 your own mind too, as will make any reader, that is blest with a 

 generous soul, to love you the better. I confess, that for doing 

 this you may justly judge me too bold : if you do, I will say so 

 too ; and so far commute for my offence that, though I be more 

 than a hundred miles from you, and in the eighty-third year of 

 my age, yet I will forget both, and next month begin a pilgrimage 

 to beg your pardon ; for I would die in your favour, and till then 

 will live, Sir, your most affectionate Father and Friend, 



IZAAK WALTON.* 



LONDON, April 29, 1676. 



* This letter, and the Retirement, are placed at the close of the Second Part, in the 

 edition of 1676. 



