DOVE DALE REVISITED 31 



endure all the praises you have ventur'd to fix 

 upon me in it, and when I have thankt you for 

 them, as the efforts ofanundissembled love; then 

 let me tell you, Sir, that I will really 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 ventur'd to fill a part of 

 your Margin, by way of Paraphrase, for the 

 Readers clearer understanding the situation both 

 of your Fishing House and the pleasantness of 

 that you dwell in. And I have ventur'd also to 

 give him a Copy of Verses, that you were pleas'd 

 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 blegt with a Generous Soul, to 

 love you the better. I confess, that for doing 

 this, you may justly Judg 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 dye in your favour : and till then 

 will live, 



" Sir, 



" Your most affectionate 



" Father and Friend, 



" IZAAK WALTON. 



"London, April 29, 1676." 



