CHAP. XVI.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 197 



lady-smocks, and there a girl cropping culverkeyes and cow- 

 slips, all to make garlands suitable to this present month of 

 May. These, and many other field -flowers, so 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 meek pos- 

 sess the earth ; or, rather, they enjoy what the other possess and 

 enjoy not : for Anglers, and meek, quiet-spirited men, are free 

 from those high, those restless thoughts, which corrode the 

 sweets of life ; and they, and they only, can say, as the poet 

 has happily expressed it : 



" Hail ! blest estate of lowliness ! 

 Happy enjoyments of such minds, 

 As, rich in self-contentedness, 

 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 writ- 

 ten by Phineas Fletcher, an excellent Divine, and an excellent 

 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. 

 His certain life, that never can deceive him, 



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: 

 His life is neither tossed in boisterous seas, 

 Or the vexatious world, or lost in slothful ease : 

 Pleased and full blest he lives, when he his God can please. 



