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proud； Like the bright sun； oft setting in a cloud： I would be poor； but
know the humble grass Still trampled on by each unworthy ass： Rich；
hated wise； suspected； scorn'd if poor； Great； fear'd； fair； tempted； high；
still envy'd more。 I have wish'd all； but now I wish for neither。 Great； high；
rich； wise； nor fair： poor I'll be rather。
Would the World now adopt me for her heir； Would beauty's Queen
entitle me the fair； Fame speak me fortune's minion； could I 〃 vie Angels 〃
with India with a speaking eye Command bare heads； bow'd knees； strike
justice dumb； As well as blind and lame； or give a tongue To stones by
epitaphs； be call'd 〃 great master 〃 In the loose rhymes of every poetaster ？
Could I be more than any man that lives； Great； fair； rich wise； all in
superlatives； Yet I more freely would these gifts resign Than ever fortune
would have made them mine。 And hold one minute of this holy leisure
Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure。
Welcome； pure thoughts； welcome； ye silent groves； These guests；
these courts； my soul most dearly loves。 Now the wing'd people of the sky
shall sing My cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring： A pray'r…book；
now； shall be my looking…glass； In which I will adore sweet virtue's face。
Here dwell no hateful looks； no palace cares； No broken vows dwell here；
nor pale…fac'd fears； Then here I'll sit； and sigh my hot love's folly； And
learn t' affect an holy melancholy： And if contentment be a stranger then；
I'll ne'er look for it； but in heaven； again。
Venator。 Well； Master； these verses be worthy to keep a room in every
man's memory。 I thank you for them； and I thank you for your many
instructions； which； God willing； I will not forget。 And as St。 Austin； in his
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THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
Confessions； 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 philosophy 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 mortification； he should frequent churches； and view
monuments； and charnel…houses； and then and there consider how many
dead bodies 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 everything 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。〃
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