Where with a fixt eye, and a ready hand, He studies first to hook, and then to land Some Trout, or Perch, or Pike; and having done, And that escaped his hook, which with a wile Did eat the bait, and Fisherman beguile. Thus, whilst some vex they from their lands are thrown, To live at peace now, and have fishing free. April 3, 1650.* EDW. POWEL, Mr. of Arts.† TO MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW,‡ MR IZ. WALTON, THIS book is so like you, and you like it, I love this mirth, art, wit, the book, and you. ROB. FLOUD, C.S TO HIS INGENIOUS FRIEND, MR IZAAK WALTON, SINCE 'tis become a common fate, that we 'Tis not my fault that I am not supplied Luck, skill, and patience: for I have a heart Whose fortune imps their ingenuity. *The date does not occur in the second edition. + Probably the Edward Powel "of the borough of Stafford, Minister," whose son Charles took his degree of B. A. in 1666, became Rector of Cheddington, and was the author of The Religious Rebel. Wood's Fasti Oxon., by Bliss, vol. ii. p. 289. An "Ed. Powel," and most likely the same person, addressed some Complimentary Verses to his very worthy and most ingenious friend, Mr James Shirley," which are prefixed to Shirley's Poems, 8vo, 1646. Thus in the second, but the words "in-law" are omitted in the third and subsequent editions. Elder brother of John Floud, M.A., before mentioned, and brother of Walton's first wife. See Life of Walton. These verses occur in the second edition only. For what reason Walton omitted them in the three subsequent impressions, which were published in his lifetime, it is not easy to guess, unless it was because he thought slightingly of their merits. That it was not from a quarrel with the author is certain, from his having addressed "An humble Eclogue to him as late as May 1660, in which Walton calls him his "ingenious friend." But then what make I here, to write of that, Do't as they pray and preach by inspiration; But when I think with what a pleasing art And fishes leap for joy when they are caught : A fish, so that I might be took by thee. Blest then are thy companions, who with thee Such undisturb'd, such dangerless delight, Whence more safe joy, more true contentment springs Or great king-riders, who still hurried are With those grand tyrants, business and care; Whilst by some gliding river thou sit'st down, Thou'rt killing them, thou think'st of once dead men ; Names, whom thou robest with immortality. And spite of envy, this encomium give, By Thee fish die; by Thee dead friends revive. ALEX. BROME.* * One of the twelve adopted sons of Ben Jonson, and the author of The Cunning Lovers, a Tragedy, 1654; Songs, and other Poems, 1664; and Covent Garden Drollery, 1672, &c. CLARISSIMO AMICISSIMOQUE FRATRI, DOMINO ISAACO WALTON, ARTIS PISCATORIÆ PERITISSIMO. UNICUS est medicus reliquorum piscis, et istis, Fas quibus est medicum tangere, certa salus. Hic typus est Salvatoris mirandus JESU, 1 Litera mysterium quælibet hujus habet. Hunc cupio, hunc capias (bone frater arundinis), ix@úv: Piscis is est, et piscator, mihi credito, qualem 2 Matt. xvii. 27, the last words of the chapter. HENRY BAYLEY, Artium Magister.” AD VIRUM OPTIMUM, ET PISCATOREM PERITISSIMUM, MAGISTER artis docte Piscatoria, Henry Bagley in the second, third, and fourth editions. A Henry Bagley was minister of the Savoy from 1623 to 1625.-H. †These verses occur for the first time in the fifth edition. Avidámve percam parvulo alburno capis, Nec sola praxis, sed theoria et tibi Nota artis hujus ; unde tu simul bonus Varias et escas piscium, indolem, et genus. Monimenta morum, vitæ et exempla optima; Dum tu profundum scribis HOOKERUM et pium DONNUM ac disertum; sanctum et HERBERTUM, sacrum Vatem hos videmus nam penicillo tuo Graphicè, et peritâ, Isace, depictos manu. Post fata factos hosce per te Virbios. O quæ voluptas est legere in scriptis tuis! AD ISAACUM WALTONUM, VIRUM ET PISCATOREM OPTIMUM.+ ISACE, macte hac arte piscatoriâ; Hac arte Petrus principi censum dedit ; * By Dr James Duport. See next page. These verses occur for the first time in the fifth edition. B Augustus, hamo instructus ac arundine. JACO. DUP. D.D.* * James Duport, S. T. P. Master of Magdalen College, Cambridge, in 1668, and became Dean of Peterborough on the 27th of July 1664. He was the son of John Duport, who assisted in the translation of King James's Bible, and was Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge; was afterwards Professor of Greek in that University; and died about 1679.-Fuller's Church History, B. x. p. 46. Walton, in his Life of Herbert, says that Dr Duport had collected and published Herbert's Poems. In a collection of Latin Poems, by Dean Duport, entitled Musa Subseciva, printed in 8vo, 1676, the verses in the text, those in the preceding page, and some on Walton's Life of Herbert, will be found, pp. 101, 118, 371. A short account of this person is given by Bishop Kennett in the Lansdowne MSS. 986 and 987. |