INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 13 



so obedient to your desires, as to endure all the praises you have ventured 

 to fix upon me in it. And when 1 have thanked you for them, as the 

 effects of an undissembled love, then let me tell you, sir, that I will really 

 endeavor to live up to the character you have given of me j 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 para- 

 phrase, for the reader's clearer understanding the situation, both of your 

 Fishing-house, and the pleasantness of that you dwell in. And I have 

 Tentured 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 blest 

 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 next month begin a pilgrimage to beg your pardon ; for I would 

 die in your favor ; and till then will live, sir, 



Your most affectionate father and friend, 



London, 

 April sgtA, 1676. 



With this enlarged edition also appeared, for the first time, 

 the following beautiful verses, exhibiting as favorable a speci- 

 men of Cotton's poetical powers as his whole works could 

 supply. 



THE RETIREMENT. 



IRREGULAR STANZAS, 

 ADDRESSED TO 



MR. IZAAK WALTON. 

 I. 



PAREWELL, thou busy world ! and may 



We never meet again : 

 Here I can eat, and sleep, and pray, 

 And do more good in one short day, 

 Than he, who his whole age outwears 

 Upon the most conspicuous theatres, 

 Where naught but vanity and vice do reign. 



