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 seem'd in love The lusty sap began to move;Fresh juice did stir th' embracing vines.And birds had drawn their valentines.
The jealous trout, that low did lie Rose at a well-dissembled fly There stood my Friend, with patient skill, Attending of his trembling quill.
Already were the eves possess With the swift pilgrim's daubed nest; The groves already did rejoice In Philomel's triumphing voice:
The showers were short, the weather mild, The morning fresh, the evening smil'd.Joan takes her neat-rubb'd pail, and now, She trips to milk the sand-red cow;Where, for some sturdy foot-ball swain, Joan strokes a syllabub or twain.The fields and gardens were beset With tulips, crocus, violet;And now, though late, the modest rose Did more than half a blush disclose.Thus all looks gay, and full of cheer, To welcome the new- livery'd year.
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 Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place Where I may see my quill, or cork, down sink With eager bite of Perch, or Bleak, or Dace; And on the world and my Creator think: Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t' embrace; And others spend their time in base excess Of wine.or worse.in war and wantonnessLet them that list, these pastimes still pursue, And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill; So I the fields and meadows green may view, And daily by fresh rivers walk at will Among the daisies and the violets blue, Red hyacinth, and yellow daffodil, Purple Narcissus like the morning rays, Pale gander-grass, and azure culver-keys.
I count it higher pleasure to behold The stately compass of the lofty sky; And in the midst thereof, like burning gold, The flaming chariot of the world's great eye:
The watery clouds that in the air up-roll'd With sundry kinds of painted colours fly; And fair Aurora, lifting up her head, Still blushing, rise from old Tithonus' bed.
The hills and mountains raised from the plains, The plains extended level with the ground The grounds divided into sundry veins, The veins inclos'd with rivers running round; These rivers making way through nature's chains, With headlong course, into the sea profound; The raging sea, beneath the vallies low, Where lakes, and rills, and rivulets do flow:
The lofty woods, the forests wide and long, Adorned with leaves and branches fresh and green, In whose cool bowers the birds with many a song, Do welcome with their quire the summer's Queen; The meadows fair, where Flora's gifts, among Are intermix", with verdant grass between; The silver-scaled fish that softly swim 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; Taking therein no little delectation, To think how strange, how wonderful they be: Framing thereof an inward contemplation To set his heart from other fancies free; And whilst he looks on these with joyful eye, His mind is rapt above the starry sky.
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.
Venator.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 restPiscator.Most gladly, Sir, and we'll drink a civil cup to all the Otter- hunters that are to meet you to-morrow.
Venator.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-morrowat 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 too will, for that time, do nothing but angle, and talk of fish and fishing.
Piscator.It is a match, Sir, I will not fail you, God willing, to be at Amwell Hill to-morrow morning before sun-rising.
