358 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



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 conversation 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. Nevertheless, 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 Ninth 

 of May ; for then I hope again to enjoy your beloved com- 

 pany, 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 honoured so much for being philosophers, as 

 to honour philosophy by their virtuous lives. You advised 

 me to the like concerning angling, and I will endeavour to 

 do so ; and to live like those many worthy men, of which 

 you made mention in the former part of your discourse. 

 This is my firm resolution ; and as a pious man advised 

 his friend, that to beget mortification he should frequent 

 churches, and view monuments and charnel-houses, and 



