Lodge near thy heart, or on thy brow.
The King! the King's returned! and now
Let's banish all sad thoughts, and sing
We have our Laws, and have our King.

DORUS.

'Tis true, and I would sing, but oh ! These wars have shrunk my heart so low, 'Twill not be rais'd.

DAMON.

What, not this day?

Why, 'tis the twenty-ninth of May :
Let Rebels' spirits sink: let those
That, like the Goths and Vandals, rose
To ruin families, and bring

Contempt upon our Church, our King,
And all that's dear to us, be sad;
But be not thou; let us be glad.
And Dorus, to invite thee, look,
Here's a collection in this book
Of all those cheerful songs, that we
Have
sung with mirth and merry-glee;
As we have march'd to fight the cause
Of God's anointed, and our laws :
Such songs as make not the least odds
Betwixt us mortals and the Gods:
Such songs as Virgins need not fear
To sing, or a grave matron hear.

Here's love drest neat, and chaste, and gay,
As gardens in the month of May;
Here's harmony, and wit, and art,

To raise thy thoughts and cheer thy heart.

DORUS.

Written by whom?

DAMON.

A Friend of mine,

And one that's worthy to be thine:

I lov'd you for your Synagogue, before

I knew your person; but now love you more;
Because I find

It is so true a picture of your mind:

Which tunes your sacred lyre

To that eternal quire
Where holy Herbert sits

(0 shame to prophane wits)

And sings his and your Anthems, to the praise
Of Him that is the first and last of daies.

These holy Hymns had an Ethereal birth:
For they can raise sad souls above the earth,
And fix them there

Free from the world's anxieties and fear.
Herbert and you have pow'r
To do this ev'ry hour

I read you kills a sin,

Or lets a vertue in

To fight against it; and the Holy Ghost
Supports my frailties, lest the day be lost.

This holy war, taught by your happy pen,
The Prince of Peace approves.

Neglect our arms,

When we poor men

Ware circumvested with a world of harms.

But I will watch and ward,
And stand upon my guard,

And still consult with you,
And Herbert, and renew

My vows, amd say, Well fare his, and your heart,
The fountains of such sacred wit and art.

IZ. WA.

Letter to Colonel Richard Venables

(1662)

To his Ingenious Friend, the Author, on his "Angling

"Honoured Sir,

Improved"

"Though I never, to my knowledge, had the happiness to see your face, yet accidentally coming to a view of this discourse before it went to the press: I hold myself obliged in point of gratitude for the great advantage I received thereby, to tender you my particular acknowledgments; especially, having been, for thirty years past not only a lover but a practiser of that innocent recreation, wherein, by your judicious precepts, I find myself fitted for a higher form; which expression I take the boldness to

use, because I have read and practised by many books of this kind formerly made public: from which, though I received much advantage in the practice, yet, without prejudice to their worthy authors, I could never find in them that height of judgment and reason which you have manifested in this, as I may call it, epitome of Angling since my reading whereof I cannot look upon some notes of my own gathering, but methinks I do puerilia tractare. But lest I should be thought to go about to magnify my own judgment in giving yours so small a portion of its due, I humbly take leave with no more ambition than to kiss your hand, and to be accounted

"Your humble and thankful servant,

"I. W."

Letter to Edward Ward

(1670)

[Preserved among the MSS. in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. First printed in Notes and Queries, May 17, 1856. R. H. S.]

S'.,

for my worthy frend MR. EDWARD WARD,
att Rodon Temple, nere unto Lester.

MR. BABINGTONS att Rodon Temple.

Att

I came well from Winton to London, about 3 weikes past at that time I left Do'. Hawkins well: and my dafter (after a greate danger of child berth) not very well, but by a late letter from him, I heare they be boeth in good health.

The doctor did tell me a gowne and some bookes of y's were in danger to be lost, though he had made (at a distance) many inquiries after them, and intreated others to doe so too, but yet inefectually. He theirfore intreated me to undertake a search: and I have donne it so succesfuly that uppon thursday the 24° instant they were dd to that letter carryer that Inns at the Rose in Smithfeild, and with them the Life of M'. George Herbert (and 3 others) wrapt up in a paper and directed to you at Rodon Temple, the booke not tyed to the bundell, but of it selfe. The

bundell cost me 35 8 carryage to London, and I hope it will now come safe to your hands.

What I have to write more is my heartie wishes for y' hapiness,

for I am

Y'. affec. frend and seruant,

IZAAK WALTON.

Nou 26°, 1670.

If you incline to write to me, direct your letter to be left at Mr. Grinsells, a grocer in King streite in Westminster. Much good doe you with the booke, wch I wish better.

M'. Marriott,

Letter to Marriott

(1673)

I have received Bentevolio, and in it M'. Her3. life; I thank you for both. I have since I saw you received from M'. Millington so much of M'. Hales his life as Mr. Faringdon had writ; and have made many inquiries concerning him, namely of M". Powny, of Windsor (at whose house he died), and as I have heard, so have set them down, that my memory might not lose them. M'. Montague did at my being in Windsor promise me to summon his memory, and set down what he knew of him. This I desired him to do at his best leisure, and write it down, and he that knew him and all his affairs best of any man is like to do it very well, because I think he will do it affectionately, so that if Mr. Fulman make his queries concerning that part of his life spent in Oxford, he will have many, and good, I mean true information from M. Faringdon, till he came thither, and by me and my means since he came to Eton.

This I write that you may inform M'. Fulman of it, and I pray let him know I will not yet give over my queries; and let him know that I hope to meet him and the Parliament in health and in London in October, and then and there deliver up my collections to him. In the mean time I wish him and you health;