CHAP. xvi. THE FOURTH DAY. 149 



a boy gathering lilies and lady-smocks, and there a girl cropping ^^ 

 culverkeys and cowslips, all to make garlands suitable to this // 

 present month of May : these, and many other field-flowers, so Ufo 

 perfumed the air, that I thought that very meadow like that 

 field in Sicily of which Diodorus speaks, where the perfumes 

 arising from the place make all dogs that hunt in it to fall off, 

 and to lose their hottest scent. I say, as I thus sat, joying in 

 my own happy condition, and pitying this poor rich man that 

 owned this and many other pleasant groves and meadows about 

 me, I did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, that .the 

 n^eek_pQssess Jhejffirth : or rather they enjoy whf\{ the others 

 possess and enjoy not ; for anglers and meek quiet-spiritedonen 

 "are freSIESSItKose~1iigh, those restless thoughts which corrode 

 the sweets oflif&Ii-anrl the^ flnd fhpy nnly, ran ^y 1 as the poet 

 it 



" Hail blest estate of lowliness ! 



Happy enjoyments of such minds 

 As, pAjn_self-contentedRess. 



Can, like the reeds in roughest winds, 

 By yielding make that blow but small, 

 At which proud oaks and cedars fall." 



There came also into my mind, at that time, certain verses 

 in praise of a mean estate and an humble mind ; they were 

 written by Phineas Fletcher, an excellent divine, and an excel- 

 lent angler, and the author of excellent piscatory eclogues, in 

 which you shall see the picture of this good man's mind, and I 

 wish mine to be like it. 



[ " No empty hopes, no courtly fears him fright ; 

 No begging wants his middle fortune bite : 

 But sweet content exiles both misery and spite. 



Is full of thousand sweets and rich content ; 

 The smooth-leaved beeches in the field receive him, \ 

 With coolest shade, till noontide's heat be spent. 



