66 THE . COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



antiquity of angling, which for my part I have not forced, 

 like an ancient family, be either an honour or an ornament 

 shall, to this virtuous art which I profess to love and practise, 

 I shall be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of the 

 antiquity of it ; of which I shall say no more, but proceed to 

 that just commendation which I think it deserves. 



And for that I shall tell you, that in ancient times a debate 

 hath risen, and it remains yet unresolved, whether the hap- 

 piness of man in this world doth consist more in contemplation 

 or action ? 1 



Concerning which some have endeavoured to maintain 

 their opinion of the first, by saying, that the nearer we 

 mortals come to God by way of imitation, the more happy 

 we are. And they say, that G-od enjoys himself only, by 

 a contemplation of his own infiniteness, eternity, power, 

 and goodness, and the like. And upon this ground, many 

 cloisteral men of great learning and devotion, prefer con- 

 templation before action. And many of the fathers seem to 

 approve this opinion, as may appear in their commentaries 

 upon the words of our Saviour to Martha, Luke x. 41, 42. 



And on the contrary, there want not men of equal autho- 

 rity and credit, that prefer action to be the more excellent ; 

 as, namely, experiments in physic, and the application of it, 

 both for the ease and prolongation of man's life, by which 

 each man is enabled to act and do good to others, either to 

 serve his country, or do good to particular persons ; and they 

 say also, that action is doctrinal, and teaches both art 

 and virtue, and is a maintainer of human society ; and for 

 these, and other like reasons, to be preferred before con- 

 templation. 



Concerning which two opinions I shall forbear to add a 

 third, by declaring my own ; and rest myself contented in 

 telling you, my very worthy friend, that both these meet 



1 This is a question which many persons of wit, especially among the 

 Italian writers, have discussed ; a disquisition, in the judgment of Lord 

 Clarendon, about as profitable, as whether a long journey is best undertaken 

 on a black or a bay horse. See Lord Clarendon's " Tracts," page 167. H. 

 The Tract referred to was written about 1670. But Evelyn had previously 

 (in 1667) discussed the subject in his Tract "Public Employment, and 

 an Active Life preferred to Solitude." See this in his Miscellaneous 

 Works, 4to. 1825, page 501 



