of his spirits, a diverter of sadness, a calmer of unquiet thoughts, a moderator of passions, a procurer of contentedness:" and "that it begat habits of peace and patience in those that professed and practised it." Indeed, my friend, you will find angling to be like the virtue of humility, which has a calmness of spirit, and a world of other blessings attending upon it. Sir, this was the saying of that learned man. And I do easily believe, that peace, and patience, and a calm content, did cohabit in the cheerful heart of Sir Henry Wotton; because I know that when he was beyond seventy years of age, he made this description of a part of the present pleasure that possessed him, as he sat quietly, in a summer's evening, on a bank a-fishing. It is a description of the spring; which because it glided as soft and sweetly from his pen, as that river does at this time, by which it was then made, I shall repeat it unto you : "This day dame Nature seemed in love; Fresh juice did stir th' embracing vines; "The jealous trout, that low did lie, There stood my friend, with patient skill, "Already were the eaves possesst "The showers were short, the weather mild, "Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, "And now, though late, the modest rose These were the thoughts that then possessed the undisturbed mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will you hear the wish of another angler, and the commendation of his happy life, which he also sings in verse; viz. Jo. Davors, Esq. ? "Let me live harmlessly, and near the brink Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods 't embrace, "Let them that list, these pastimes still pursue, And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill; "I count it higher pleasure to behold The stately compass of the lofty sky; "The hills and mountains raised from the plains, The veins enclosed with rivers running round; "The lofty woods, the forests wide and long, Adorned with leaves and branches fresh and green, Are intermixt, with verdant grass between; Within the sweet brook's crystal watery stream. "All these, and many more of His creation That made the heavens, the angler oft doth see: To think how strange, how wonderful they be! To set his heart from other fancies free; Sir, I am glad my memory has not lost these last verses, because they are somewhat more pleasant and more suitable to May-day than my harsh discourse. And I am glad your patience hath held out so long as to hear them and me; for both together have brought us within the sight of the Thatched House. And I must be your debtor, if you think it worth your attention, for the rest of my promised discourse, till some other opportunity, and a like time of leisure. Ven. Sir, you have angled me on with much pleasure to the Thatched House; and I now find your words true, "that good company makes the way seem short;" for trust me, sir, I thought we had wanted three miles of this house, till you showed it to me. But now we are at it, we'll turn into it, and refresh ourselves with a cup of drink, and a little rest. Pisc. Most gladly, sir, and we'll drink a civil cup to all the otter-hunters that are to meet you to morrow. Ven. That we will, sir, and to all the lovers of angling too, of which number I am now willing to be one myself: for, by the help of your good discourse and company, I have put on new thoughts both of the art of angling, and of all that profess it: and if you will but meet me to-morrow, at the time and place appointed, and bestow one day with me and my friends in hunting the otter, I will dedicate the next two days to wait upon you, and we two will for that time do nothing but angle, and talk of fish and fishing. Pisc. 'Tis a match, sir: I'll not fail you, God willing, to be at Amwell Hill to-morrow morning before sun-rising. otter. CHAPTER II. Venator. Y friend Piscator, you have kept time with my thoughts, for the sun is just rising, and I myself just now come to this place, and the dogs have just now put down an Look down at the bottom of the hill there in that meadow, chequered with water-lilies and lady-smocks; there you may see what work they make: look! look! you may see all busy, men and dogs; dogs and men, all busy. Pisc. Sir, I am right glad to meet you, and glad to have so fair an entrance into this day's sport, and glad to see so many dogs and more men, all in pursuit of the otter. Let us compliment no longer, but join unto them. Come, honest Venator, let us be gone, let us make haste; I long to be doing; no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me. Ven. Gentleman huntsman, where found you this otter? Huntsman. Marry, sir, we found her a mile from |