the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第38章
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would have made them mine。 And hold one minute of this holy leisure
Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure。
Welcome; pure thoughts; welcome; ye silent groves; These guests;
these courts; my soul most dearly loves。 Now the wing'd people of the sky
shall sing My cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring: A pray'r…book;
now; shall be my looking…glass; In which I will adore sweet virtue's face。
Here dwell no hateful looks; no palace cares; No broken vows dwell here;
nor pale…fac'd fears; Then here I'll sit; and sigh my hot love's folly; And
learn t' affect an holy melancholy: And if contentment be a stranger then;
I'll ne'er look for it; but in heaven; again。
Venator。 Well; Master; these verses be worthy to keep a room in every
man's memory。 I thank you for them; and I thank you for your many
instructions; which; God willing; I will not forget。 And as St。 Austin; in his
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THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
Confessions; commemorates the kindness of his friend Verecundus; for
lending him and his companion a country house; because there they rested
and enjoyed themselves; free from the troubles of the world; so; having
had the like advantage; both by your conversation and the art you have
taught me; I ought ever to do the like; for; indeed; your company and
discourse have been so useful and pleasant; that; I may truly say; I have
only lived since I enjoyed them and turned angler; and not before。
Nevertheless; here I must part with you; here in this now sad place; where
I was so happy as first to meet you: but I shall long for the ninth of May;
for then I hope again to enjoy your beloved company; at the appointed
time and place。 And now I wish for some somniferous potion; that might
force me to sleep away the intermitted time; which will pass away with me
as tediously as it does with men in sorrow; nevertheless I will make it as
short as I can; by my hopes and wishes: and; my good Master; I will not
forget the doctrine which you told me Socrates taught his scholars; that
they should not think to be honoured so much for being philosophers; as to
honour philosophy by their virtuous lives。 You advised me to the like
concerning Angling; and I will endeavour to do so; and to live like those
many worthy men; of which you made mention in the former part of your
discourse。 This is my firm resolution。 And as a pious man advised his
friend; that; to beget mortification; he should frequent churches; and view
monuments; and charnel…houses; and then and there consider how many
dead bodies time had piled up at the gates of death; so when I would beget
content; and increase confidence in the power; and wisdom; and
providence of Almighty God; I will walk the meadows; by some gliding
stream; and there contemplate the lilies that take no care; and those very
many other various little living creatures that are not only created; but fed;
man knows not how; by the goodness of the God of Nature; and therefore
trust in him。 This is my purpose; and so; let everything that hath breath
praise the Lord: and let the blessing of St。 Peter's Master be with mine。
Piscator And upon all that are lovers of virtue; and dare trust in his
providence; and be quiet; and go a Angling。
〃Study to be quiet。〃
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