LIFE OF COTTON. 363 



decorum, not to say of religion would in these days 

 of licence forbear : " A worm is so sure a bait at all 

 <e times that, excepting in a flood, I would I had laid 

 " [me] a thousand pounds that I did not kill fish, 

 cc more or less, with it winter, or summer -every day 

 cc in the year; those days always excepted, that upon 

 " a more serious account always ought so to be*:" 

 from whence it is but just to infer, that the delight he 

 took in fishing was never a temptation with him to 

 profane the sabbath. 



The inconsistencies above pointed out, we leave the 

 perusers of his various writings to reconcile ; with this 

 remark, That he must have possessed a mind well 

 stored with ideas, and habituated to reflection, who 

 could write such verses as immediately follow this ac- 

 count; and, in many respects, have been an amiable 

 man, whom WALTON could choose for hi* friend, and 

 adopt for his son. 



J. H. 



CONTENTAT10N, 



Directed to my dear Father and most worthy Friend^ 

 Mr. Isaac Walton. 



I. 



Heav'n, -what an age is this ! what race 



Of giants is sprung up, that dare 

 Thus fly i i the Almighty's face, 



And with his providence make war ! 



II. 



I can go no where but I meet 



With malecontents and mutineer! ; 

 As if, in life, was nothing sweet, 



And we must blessings reap in tearsi 



* Chap. XI. 

 x 3 



