and Kenna,* and Morley, which, at least, I hope may be found consonant to their character, and the peculiar circumstances of the times; and which will be strictly appropriate, as Walton's "Contemplative Man's Recreation" is written in dialogue. Above all, I make this attempt, as my friend Mr. Calcott, so eminent in his silent and beautiful art, has favoured me with a design on purpose for this work, representing the cottage of Isaak Walton, as it appeared at the time, taken from the last edition of Walton - together with an original portrait of Morley, from a drawing by the younger Walton from life. A few explanatory words may be premised. The Oxford visitation took place in December 1647; Morley was expelled, by Parliamentary Precept, in the March following, it is said, not without personal violence. He had lived a confidential and domestic friend, as chaplain, in the household of Lord Robert Carnarvon. By this nobleman he was recommended to the King, 1640. Notwithstanding his speculative religious creed was the very reverse of Laud's, his affectionate heart took the warmest interest in the fortunes of his Sovereign from the commencement of his troubles. The King appointed him Canon of Christchurch in 1641; and he resided, beloved and respected by * His wife was called "Kenna" from her name Ken. See his own beautiful ballad-" And hear my Kenna sing a song." Complete Angler. + William Browne, author of Britannia's Pastorals, had been Lord Carnarvon's Tutor. all parties, till his ejection, both from that Canonry and from his Living of Mildenhall, near Marlborough. He was now without house and home in the world, but he remembered the delightful days when in youth he had been the associate of Lord Falkland -of Hyde, afterwards Lord Clarendon-of Ben Jonson-of Chillingworth, now left also bereaved by the storm which scattered the best and wisest of their day-of Charles Cotton, the adopted son of Isaak Walton, as he himself had been, in younger days, the adopted son of Ben Jonson. He remembered those times and those men, and having no refuge-as some were killed, the brave and accomplished Falkland-and some struggling themselves, or pursuing, like Hyde, a studious and laborious profession he thought of the quiet and contented heart of Cotton's adopted father, Walton - of their early acquaintance, when both were hearers of Donne of Walton's piety and apostolical simplicity-of his warm but unostentatious attachment to the Church, of his cheerful but humble situation, remote from the storms of public life, when he lived retired, with his beloved Kenna and only one infant, in Staffordshire. Perhaps he had been invited to partake there, when the world frowned, his lonely but pious meal,- he knew he should find welcome, and therefore hastened, in the day of adversity, to find peace and protection in the cottage of honest Isaac Walton. As this circumstance only accounts for the long and unvarying friendship of the Bishop, whose palace, in grateful remembrance of protection received in Piscator's cottage, was open, till death, to his long-tried friend imagination can hardly conceive a more affecting groupe than Walton's cottage exhibited at the time when Morley, an outcast in the world, was here welcomed. Having stated thus much, I shall now endeavour to dramatize the parting scene. Isaac has returned, on a beautiful evening in spring from his solitary amusement to the small garden-plat before his door-where appears Morley, musing of the future -and his beloved Kenna, lately become a mother. SCENE, Cottage of Isaak Walton, near Stafford; Morley, and Kenna, with her Infant, Piscator returned from fishing. Piscator.-I am glad to come back to my best friends upon earth, this fine, beautiful evening of the young May, when the cuckoo has been singing all day, putting us in mind of that verse in the Canticles, "The winter is past, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;" and trust me, I am no less glad to see my Kenna sitting with you, my friend, to enjoy the fragrant air, and look at the swallows skimming the green, as rejoicing to find themselves at home, after their long peregrination in unknown lands. Kenna. And I indeed have had my eyes fixed on them, and my heart also; for, alas! our friend, to whom I shall ever be grateful for so much divine instruction in these troubled times, has spoken to me to-day of leaving us, and going beyond seas, on his distant peregrination, to-morrow morning. Piscator.-I shall be sorry to hear of such a resolve, fearing that our hospitality may be thought too humble, albeit it is not a wit the less hearty; but tell me, good and virtuous Master Morley, are you tired of me and "my Kenna," and this our poor cottage; and the birds that sing us to rest at night, and wake us in the morning; and this small garden, and this neat honeysuckle arbour, where we "study to be quiet." Are you tired of me, and of these, or poor Kenna, so soon? I may say, Morley.-Honest Master Walton, my kind and affectionate friend, I have lived here upwards of twelve months, far from noise and sorrow, and the troubles of life, and the painted mask of hypocrisy. I have lived here with more true joy and content than I have hitherto experienced in my journey to another country, a better country, my Christian friend, where there "is neither storm or troubles, nor broken friendships," and "where the sleep of the weary is sweet," and all tears are wiped from all eyes for ever! and, trust me, wherever I shall be, whilst this life of trial abides, I shall remember, as among the happiest, and peradventure the most profitable, seasons of my life, the time I have passed here in quietness, I hope, improvement of temper and heart. |