24S THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



moratcs the kindness of his friend, Verecundus, for lending hinn 

 and his companion a country-house, because there they rested 

 and enjoyed themselves free from the troubles of the world ; so, 

 having had the like advantage, both by your conversation and 

 the art you have taught me, I ought ever to do the like ; for 

 indeed, your company and discourse have been so useful and 

 pleasant, that I may truly say, I have only lived since I enjoyed 

 them and turned angler, and not before. Nevertheless, here I 

 must part with you, here in this now sad place, where I was so 

 happy as first to meet you : but I shall long for the ninth of 

 May, for then I hope again to enjoy your beloved company at the 

 appointed time and place. And now I wish for some somniferous 

 potion, that might force me to sleep away the intermitted time, 

 which will pass away Avith me as tediously as it does with men 

 in sorrow ; nevertheless I will make it as short as I can by my 

 hopes and wishes. And, my good Master, I will not forget the 

 doctrine which you told me Socrates taught his scholars, that 

 they should not think to be honored so much for being philoso- 

 phers, as to honor philosophy by their virtuous lives. You ad- 

 vised me to do the like concerning angling, and I will endeavor 

 to do so, and to live like those many worthy men, of which you 

 made mention in the former part of your discourse. This is my 

 firm resolution ; and as a pious man advised his friend, that to 

 beget mortification he should frequent churches, and view monu- 

 ments and charnel houses, and then and there consider, how many 

 dead bones time had piled up at the gates of death : so when I 

 would beget content, and increase confidence in the power, and 

 wisdom, and Providence of Almighty God, I will walk the mea- 

 dows by some gliding stream, and there contemplate the lilies 

 that take no care, and those very many other various little living 

 creatures, that are not only created, but fed, man knows not how, 

 by the goodness of the God of Nature, and therefore trust in him. 

 This is my purpose ; and so, " Let every thing that hath breath 

 praise the Lord :" and let the blessing of- St. Peter's Master be 

 with mine.* 



• This has been shown in the Bib. Pref. to be a Protestant version of the 

 blessing at the end of the Berners' Treatyse : "and all those that done after 



