OF NOTHING. 309 



meek possess the earth ; or rather, they enjoy what the 

 others 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 written 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 toss'd in boisterous seas 

 Or the vexatious world, or lost in slothful ease : 

 Pleased and full bless'd he lives, when he his God can please. 



His bed, more safe than soft, yields quiet sleeps, 

 While by his side his faithful spouse hath place ; 



His little son into his bosom creeps, 

 The lively picture of his father's face ; 





