218 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



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 company 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 philo- 

 sophy 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 mortifica- 

 tion, he should frequent churches, and view monuments and 

 charnel-houses, and then and there consider how many dead 

 bones time had piled up at the gates of death : so when I would 

 beget content, and increase confidence in the power, and 

 wisdom, and providence of Almighty God, I will walk the 

 meadows, by some gliding stream, and there contemplate the 

 lilies that take no care, and those very many other various little 

 living creatures that are not only created, but fed (man knows 

 not how) by the goodness of the God of Nature, and therefore 

 trust in him. This is my purpose : and so, " let every thing 

 that hath breath praise the Lord." And let the blessing of St 

 Peter's Master be with mine. 



Piscator. And upon all that are lovers of virtue, and dare 

 trust in His providence, and be quiet, and go a-angling. 



" STUDY TO BE QUIET." 1 TheSS. iv. 11. 



END OF PART I. 



