The Compleat ^Angler 



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 

 with me as tediously, as it does with 

 men in sorrow ; nevertheless, I will 

 make it as short as 1 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 hon- 

 oured so much for being philosophers, 

 as to honour philosophy by their vir- 

 tuous lives. You advised me to the 

 like concerning angling, and I will 

 endeavour 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 reso- 

 lution ; and as a pious man advised 

 his friend, that to beget mortification 

 he should frequent churches, and view 

 monuments, 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 

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