1C INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



Should I think myself to be, 

 Might I, in this desert place, 

 Which most men in discourse disgrace, 



Live but undisturbed and free 1 

 Here, in this despised recess, 



Would I, maugre Winter's cold, 

 And the Summer's worst excess, 



Try to live out to sixty full years old ! 

 And all the while, 



Without an envious eye, 

 On any thriving under Fortune's smile 



Contented live, and then contented die. 



c. c. 



But, notwithstanding the purity of sentiment contained in 

 these verses, we are compelled to add that the virtuous aspira- 

 tions of the poet were rendered vain by a general want of 

 economy in his affairs : thus forming a striking contrast to those 

 of the practical moralist, whom we cannot help wishing he had 

 been able to imitate in a degree more consistent with his truly 

 creditable admiration. Nevertheless, their connection was 

 highly honorable to them both; it is beautiful to fancy the 

 cheerful sage relaxing to accommodate himself to the compara- 

 tively dissipated man of fashion, who, on the other hand, seems 

 to have held himself as it were in a course of reformation, in 

 compliment to his indulgent friend : nothing can be finer than 

 his carrying this temper to the length of making his acceptable- 

 ness to Walton the test of his general worthiness. See Part II. 

 Chap. I. : " My father Walton will be seen twice in no man's 

 company he does not like, and likes none but such as he believes 

 to be very honest men ; which is one of the best arguments, or 

 at least one of the best testimonies I have, that I either am, or 

 that he thinks me, one of those, seeing I have not yet found 

 him weary of me." 



Yet here we cannot refrain from the remark, that Walton 

 triumphs over his coadjutor as much in the true aims of genius 

 as in moral worth ; having immortalized himself by a work 

 which he produced by mere accident ! whilst Cotton, though 



