AND GLEANINGS. 19 



declining years, when few active enjoyments are 

 left to us. 



Angling is a diversion suited to the rich as 

 well as to the more humble in life. When 

 judiciously followed, it is both a healthy and 

 an interesting pursuit. 



Thus it is remarked again, 



" In the art of angling man hath none to 

 quarrel with but himself, and this enmity, if any, 

 can be easily composed. This recreation falleth 

 within the lowest fortune to compass, affording 

 also profit as well as pleasure, in following which 

 exercise, a man may employ his thoughts in the 

 noblest studies, almost as freely as in his closet, 

 the minds of anglers being usually calm, and 

 composed, but when he has the worst success, 

 he only loseth but a hook and line, or, perhaps, 

 what he never possessed, a fish ; and suppose he 

 takes nothing, yet he enjoyeth a delightful walk 

 by pleasant rivers, in sweet pastures, amongst 

 odoriferous flowers, which gratify his senses and 

 delight his mind ; and these contentments induce 

 many to choose those places of pleasure for their 

 summer recreation and health." Col. Venables. 



No life, my honest scholar, no life so happy, 

 so pleasant, as the life of a well governed angler, 

 there we sit in cowslips, hear the birds sing, 

 and possess ourselves in as much quietness as 



