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and is； to plant that in your mind with which I labour to possess my own
soul； that is； a meek and thankful heart。 And to that end I have shewed you；
that riches without them； do not make any man happy。 But let me tell you；
that riches with them remove many fears and cares。 And therefore my
advice is； that you endeavour to be honestly rich； or contentedly poor： but
be sure that your riches be justly got； or you spoil all。 For it is well said by
Caussin； 〃 He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth
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keeping 〃。 Therefore be sure you look to that。 And； in the next place； look
to your health： and if you have it； praise God； and value it next to a good
conscience； for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of；
a blessing that money cannot buy； and therefore value it； and be thankful
for it。 As for money； which may be said to be the third blessing； neglect it
not： but note； that there is no necessity of being rich； for I told you； there
be as many miseries beyond riches as on this side them： and if you have a
competence； enjoy it with a meek； cheerful； thankful heart。 I will tell you；
Scholar； I have heard a grave Divine say； that God has two dwellings； one
in heaven； and the other in a meek and thankful heart； which Almighty
God grant to me； and to my honest Scholar。 And so you are welcome to
Tottenham High…Cross。
Venator。 Well； Master； I thank you for all your good directions； but for
none more than this last； of thankfulness； which I hope I shall never forget。
And pray let's now rest ourselves in this sweet shady arbour； which nature
herself has woven with her own fine fingers； 'tis such a contexture of
woodbines； sweetbriar； jasmine； and myrtle； and so interwoven； as will
secure us both from the sun's violent heat； and from the approaching
shower。 And being set down； I will requite a part of your courtesies with a
bottle of sack； milk； oranges； and sugar； which； all put together； make a
drink like nectar； indeed； too good for any but us Anglers； And so； Master；
here is a full glass to you of that liquor： and when you have pledged me； I
will repeat the Verses which I promised you： it is a Copy printed among
some of Sir Henry Wotton's； and doubtless made either by him； or by a
lover of angling。 Come； Master； now drink a glass to me； and then I will
pledge you； and fall to my repetition； it is a description of such country
recreations as I have enjoyed since I had the happiness to fall into your
company。 Quivering fears； heart…tearing cares； Anxious sighs； untimely
tears； Fly； fly to courts； Fly to fond worldlings' sports； Where strain'd
sardonic smiles are glosing still； And Grief is forc'd to laugh against her
will： Where mirth's but mummery； And sorrows only real be。
Fly from our country pastimes； fly； Sad troops of human misery。 Come；
serene looks； Clear as the crystal brooks； Or the pure azur'd heaven that
smiles to see The rich attendance of our poverty： Peace and a secure mind；
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Which all men seek； we only find。
Abused mortals I did you know Where joy； heart's…ease； and comforts
grow； You'd scorn proud towers； And seek them in these bowers； Where
winds； sometimes； our woods perhaps may shake； But blust'ring care
could never tempest make； Nor murmurs e'er come nigh us； Saving of
fountains that glide by us。
Here's no fantastick mask； nor dance； But of our kids that frisk and
prance； Nor wars are seen Unless upon the green Two harmless lambs are
butting one the other； Which done； both bleating run； each to his mother
And wounds are never found； Save what the plough…share gives the
ground。
Here are no false entrapping baits； To hasten too； too hasty Fates；
Unless it be The fond credulity Of silly fish； which worldling like； still
look Upon the bait； but never on the hook； Nor envy； unless among The
birds； for prize of their sweet song。
Go； let the diving negro seek For gems； hid in some forlorn creek： We
all pearls scorn； Save what the dewy morn Congeals upon each little spire
of grass； Which careless shepherds beat down as they pass： And gold ne'er
here appears； Save what the yellow Ceres bears；
Blest silent groves； oh may ye be； For ever； mirth's best nursery ！ May
pure contents For ever pitch their tents Upon these downs； these meads；
these rocks； these mountains。 And peace still slumber by these purling
fountains： Which we may； every year； Meet when we come a…fishing here。
Piscator。 Trust me； Scholar； I thank you heartily for these Verses： they
be choicely good； and doubtless made by a lover of angling。 Come； now；
drink a glass to me； and I will requite you with another very good copy： it
is a farewell to the vanities of the world； and some say written by Sir
Harry Wotton； who I told you was an excellent angler。 But let them be writ
by whom they will； he that writ them had a brave soul； and must needs be
possess with happy thoughts at the time of their composure。
Farewell； ye gilded follies； pleasing troubles； Farewell； ye honour'd
rags； ye glorious bubbles； Fame's but a hollow echo； Gold； pure clay；
Honour the darling but of one short day； Beauty； th' eye's idol； but a
damask'd skin； State； but a golden prison； to live in And torture free…born
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minds； embroider'd Trains； Merely but pageants for proud swelling veins；
And Blood allied to greatness is alone Inherited； not purchas'd； nor our
own。 Fame； Honour； Beauty； State； Train； Blood and Birth； Are but the
fading blossoms of the earth。
I would be great； but that the sun doth still Level his rays against the
rising hill： I would be high； but see the proudest oak Most subject to the
rending thunder…stroke： I would be rich； but see men； too unkind Dig in
the bowels of the richest mind： I would be wise； but that I often see The
fox suspected； whilst the ass goes free： I would be fair； but see the fair and
proud； Like the bright sun； oft setting in a cloud： I would be poor； but
know the humble grass Still trampled on by