DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING OF A LINE 



Here dwell no hateful looks, no palace-cares, 

 No broken vows dwell here, nor pale-fac'd fears: 

 Then here I'll sit, and sigh my hot love's folly, 

 And learn t' affect an holy melancholy: 

 And if Contentment be a stranger, then 

 I'll ne'er look for it, but in Heaven again. 



VEN. Well, Master, these verses be worthy to keep a room 

 in every man's memory. I thank you for them; and I thank 

 you for your many instructions, which God willing, I will not 

 forget : and as St. Austin in his * Confessions,' Book 4, Chap. 3, 

 commemorates the kindness of his friend Verecundus, for lending 

 him 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 con- 

 versation 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 with 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 

 honoured so much for being Philosophers, as to honour Philo- 

 sophy by their virtuous 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 resolution ; 

 and as a pious man advised his friend, that to beget mortifica- 

 tion 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 power, and 

 wisdom, and providence of Almighty God, I will walk the 

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