232 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [k>ASt I 



Now the winged people of the sky shall sing 

 My cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring : 

 A prayer-book now shall be my looking-glass, 

 In which I will adore sweet Virtue's face. 

 Here dwell no hateful looks, no palace-cares, 

 No broken vows dwell here, nor pale-faced fears t 

 Then here I '11 sit, and sigh my hot love's folly, 

 And learn t' affect an holy melancholy : 



And if Contentment be a stranger, then 



I Ml ne'er look for it, but in heaven again." 



VEN. Well, Master, these verses be worthy to keep a room 

 in every man's memory. I thank you for them ; and I thank 

 you for your many instructions, which, God willing, I will not 

 forget. And as St. Austin, in his Confessions, Book IV. Chap. 

 3, commemorates the kindness of his friend Verecundus, for 

 lending him and his companion a country-house, because there 

 they rested and enjoyed themselves free from the troubles of the 

 world ; so, having had the like advantage, both by your con- 

 versation and the Art you have taught me, I ought ever to do 

 the like : for indeed, your company and discourse have been so 

 useful and pleasant, that I may truly say, I have only lived since 

 I enjoyed them and turned Angler, and not before. Neverthe- 

 less, here I must part with you, here in this now sad place, 

 where I was so happy as first to meet you : but I shall long for 

 the Qth of May, for then I hope again to enjoy your beloved 

 company at the appointed time and place. And now I wish 

 for some somniferous potion, that might force me to sleep away 

 the intermitted time, which will pass away with me as tediously 

 as it does with men in sorrow ; nevertheless I will make it as 

 short as I can, by my hopes and wishes. And my good Master, 

 I will not forget the doctrine which you told me Socrates taught 

 his scholars, that they should not think to be honored so much 

 for being philosophers, as to honor philosophy by their virtuous 

 lives. You advised me to the like concerning Angling, and I 

 will endeavor to do so, and to live like those many worthy men, 

 of which you made mention in the former part of your discourse. 



