TO 

 MY MOST HONOURED FRIEND, 



CHARLES COTTON, ESQ. 



SIR,-- You now see I have returned you your very pleasant and 

 useful discourse of " The Art of Fly-fishing," printed just as it was 

 sent me ; for I have been so obedient to your desires, as to endure 

 all the praises you have ventured to fix upon me in it. And when 

 I have thanked you for them, as the effects of an undissembled 

 love, then let me tell you, Sir, that I will readily endeavour to live 

 up to the character you have given of me, if there were no other 

 reason, yet for this alone, that you, that love me so well, and always 

 think what you speak, may not, for my sake, suffer by a mistake in 

 your judgment. 



And, Sir, I have ventured to fill a part of your margin, by way 

 of paraphrase, for the reader's clearer understanding the situation 

 both of your fishing-house, and the pleasantness of that you dwell 

 in. And I have ventured also to give him a " Copy of Verses " 

 that you were pleased to send me, now some years past, in which 

 he may see a good picture of both ; and so much of your own mind 

 too, as will make any reader, that is blessed with a generous soul, 

 to love you the better. I confess, that for doing this you may 

 justly judge me too bold ; if you do, I will say so too ; and so far 

 commute for my offence, that, though I be more than a hundred 

 miles from you, and in the eighty-third year of my age, yet I will 

 forget both, and next month begin a pilgrimage to beg your pardon ; 

 for I would die in your favour, and till then will live, 



Sir, 

 Your most affectionate father and friend, 



IZAAK WALTON. 

 London, 

 April 29, 1676. 



878 



