THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 181 



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 ; 



His humble house or poor state ne'er torment him . 



Less he could like, if less his God had lent him, 

 And when he dies, green turfs do for a tomb content him. 



Gentlemen, these were a part of the thoughts that then 

 possessed me. And I here made a conversion of a piece of an 

 old catch,* and added more to it, fitting them to be sung by us 

 anglers. Come, master, you can sing well : you must sing a 

 part of it, as it is in this paper. 



Peter. I marry, sir, this is music indeed : this has cheered 

 my heart, and made me to remember six verses in praise of 

 music, which I will speak to you instantly : 



Music ! miraculous rhetoric, that speak'st sense 



Without a tongue, excelling eloquence ; 



With what ease might thy errors be excused, 



Wert thou as truly loved as thou 'rt abused ! 



But though dull souls neglect, and some reprove thee, 



I cannot hate thee, 'cause the angels love thee. 



* The song here sung can in no sense of the word be termed a catch. It 

 was probably set to music at the request of Walton, and is to be found in 

 a book, entitled Select Ayres and Dialogues for one, two, and three Voyces ; 

 to the Theorbo-lute, and Basse Viol. By John Wilson and Charles Coleman, 

 doctors of music, Henry Lawes, and others, fol. London, 1659. It occurs 

 in the first edition of Walton's book, published in 1653. 



At the time when Walton wrote, and long before, music was so gene- 

 rally well understood, that a man who had any voice or ear, was always 

 supposed to be able to sing his part in a madrigal or song, at sight. 

 Peacham requires of his gentleman, only to be able " losing his part sure, 

 and at the first sight ; and withal, to play the same on the viol or lute." 

 Compleat Gentleman, 100. And Philornathes, in Morley's excellent Intro, 

 auction to Practical Music, in folio, London 15&7, thus complains, (at the 

 banquet of master Sophobulus,) " Supper being ended, and music books, 

 according to custom, being brought to table, the mistress of the house 

 presented me with a part, earnestly requesting me to sing. But when, 

 after many excuses, I protested unfeignedly that I could not, every one 

 began to wonder ; yea, some whispered to others, demanding how 1 was 

 brought up. So that, upon shame of mine ignorance, I go nowe to seek 

 out mine olde friend master Gnorimus, to make myself his scholar." 



