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TO 



MY MOST HONOURED FRIEND, 

 CHARLES COTTON, ESQ. 



SIR, You now see I have returned you your very pleasant 

 and useful discourse of The Art of Fly-fishing, printed just as it 

 was sent me; for I have been so obedient to your desires, as to 

 endure all the praises you have ventured to fix upon me in it. 

 And when I have thanked you for them, as the effects of an 

 undissembled love, then, let me tell you, sir, that I will readily 

 endeavour to live up to the character you have given of me, if 

 there were no other reason, yet for this alone, that you, that love 

 me so well, and always think what you speak, may not, for my 

 sake, suffer by a mistake in your judgment. 



And, sir, I have ventured to fill a part of your margin, by way 

 of paraphrase for the reader's clearer understanding the situa- 

 tion both of your fishing-house, and the pleasantness of that you 

 dwell in. And I have ventured also to give him a " Copy of 

 Verses " that you were pleased to send me, now some years 

 past, in which he may see a good picture of both; and so much 

 of your own mind too, as will make any reader, that is blessed 

 with a generous soul, to love you the better. I confess, that for 

 doing this you may justly judge me too bold; if you do, I will 

 say so too ; and so far commute for my offence, that, though 

 I be more than a hundred miles from you, and in the eighty- 

 third year of my age, yet I will forget both, and the next month 

 begin a pilgrimage to beg your pardon ; for I would die in your 

 favour, and till then will live, 



Sir, 



LONDON, Your most affectionate father and friend, 



April 29^, 1676, IZAAK WALTON. 



