THE LITEBATUBE OF PISHING. 45 



the custom of ancient days, were for once well deserved, 

 and are deserved even now in this more critical age. 

 The Complete Angler is still one of the most perfect idylls, 

 or pastorals, written in any age or country. It can never 

 tire a sympathetic or even an unsympathetic reader. 



" Age cannot wither it, nor custom stale 

 Its infinite variety." 



It will ever be the true angler's Vade Mecum, though not 

 in the literal sense it is to Mr. T. Westwood, the poet- 

 angler, who thus sings its praises in his Lay of tlie Lea : — 



" Now in noontide heat 



Here I take my seat ; 

 Izaak's hook beguiles the time — of Izaak's book I say, 



Never dearer page 



Gladden' d youth or age, 

 Never sweeter soul than his bless'd the merry May. 



For while I read, 



'Tis as if, indeed, 

 Peace and joy and gentle thoughts from each line were welling ; 



As if earth and sky 



Took a tenderer dye, 

 And as if within my heart fifty larks were trilling. 



Ne'er should angler stroll, 



Ledger, dap, or troll, 

 Without Izaak in his pouch on the banks of Lea ; — ■ 



Ne'er with worm or fly 



Trap the finny fry 

 Without loving thoughts of him, and — Benedicite I" 



To the angler who has caught the spirit of his master, 

 the " pastoral" Lea is still " sacred to his memory ; " and 

 even at this long distance of time he seems to be wandering 

 in his very footsteps along the meadows and beneath the 



