SKETCH OF WALTON'S LIFE. vii 



character of the author. He lived but a very little time after the pub- 

 lication of this poem, for, as Wood says, he ended his days on the 

 fifteenth day of December, 1683, in the great frost, at Winchester, in the 

 house of the above-named Dr. William Hawkins. He was buried in the 

 Cathedral, and in a chapel in the fourth aisle, called Prior Silksteed's 

 chapel : on a large black flat marble stone is this inscription to his 

 memory, the poetry whereof has very little to recommend it. 



HERE RESTETH THE BODY OF 



MR. ISAAC WALTON, 



WHO DYED THE 15lH OF DECEMBER, 1683. 



Alas ! he's gone before, 

 Gone to return no more ; 

 Our panting breasts aspire 

 After their aged sire, 

 Whose well-spent life did last 

 Full ninety years and past : 

 But now he hath begun 

 That which will ne'er be done, 

 Crown'd with eternal bliss, 

 We wish our souls with his. 



Votis modestis'sic flerunt liberi. 



Between Walton's retirement from business and his death, he wrote 

 the lives* of Dr. Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, Mr. Richard Hooker, Mr. 

 George Herbert, and Dr. Sanderson, bishop of Lincoln, all learned and 

 pious men. He also wrote a few copies of verses on minor passing events. 



Upon a retrospect of the foregoing particulars, and a view of some 

 others mentioned in a subsequent letter and in his Will, it will appear 

 that Walton possessed that essential ingredient in human felicity, "mens 

 sana in corpore sano ;" for in his eighty-third year he professes a resolu- 

 tion to begin a pilgrimage of more than a hundred miles, into a country 

 the most difficult and hazardous that can be conceived for an aged man 

 to travel in, to visit his friend Cotton, and doubtless to enjoy his favourite 

 diversion of angling in the delightful streams of the Dove, and on the 

 ninetieth anniversary of his birthday, he, by his Will, declares himself 

 to be of perfect memory. 



As to his worldly circumstances notwithstanding the adverse accident 

 of his being obliged, by the troubles of the times, to quit London, and 

 his occupation they appear to have been commensurate, as well with 

 the wishes as the wants of any but a covetous and intemperate man ; 

 in his relations and connexions, such a concurrence of circumstances is 

 visible, as it would be almost presumption to pray for. 



For not to mention the patronage of those many prelates and digni- 

 taries of the church, men of piety and learning, with whom he lived in a 

 close intimacy and friendship ; or, the many ingenious and worthy persons 

 with whom he corresponded and conversed ; or, the esteem and respect 

 testified by printed letters and eulogiums which his writings had procured 



* A remarkably cheap illustrated edition (price One Shilling) of them forms 

 the second number of " The Universal Library," publishing this (1853) year, by 

 Ingram, Cooke, and Co. 



