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ys　in　St。　Matthew's　Gospel；　for　He　there　says—〃　Blessed　be　the　merciful；　for　they　shall　obtain　mercy。　Blessed　be　the　pure　in　heart；　for　they　shall　see　God。　Blessed　be　the　poor　in　spirit；　for　theirs　is　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　And；　Blessed　be　the　meek；　for　they　shall　possess　the　earth。〃　Not　that　the　meek　shall　not　also　obtain　mercy；　and　see　God；　and　be　comforted；　and　at　last　come　to　the　kingdom　of　heaven：　but　in　the　meantime；　he；　and　he　only；　possesses　the　earth；　as　he　goes　towards　that　kingdom　of　heaven；　by　being　humble　and　cheerful；　and　content　with　what　his　good　God　had　allotted　him。　He　has　no　turbulent；　repining；　vexatious　thoughts　that　he　deserves　better；　nor　is　vext　when　he　see　others　possess　of　more　honour　or　more　riches　than　his　wise　God　has　allotted　for　his　share：　but　he　possesses　what　he　has　with　a　meek　and　contented　quietness；　such　a　quietness　as　makes　his　very　dreams　pleasing；　both　to　God　and　himself。

My　honest　Scholar；　all　this　is　told　to　incline　you　to　thankfulness；　and　to　incline　you　the　more；　let　me　tell　you；　and　though　the　prophet　David　was　guilty　of　murder　and　adultery；　and　many　other　of　the　most　deadly　sins；　yet　he　was　said　to　be　a　man　after　God's　own　heart；　because　he　abounded　more　with　thankfulness　that　any　other　that　is　mentioned　in　holy　scripture；　as　may　appear　in　his　book　o￡　Psalms；　where　there　is　such　a　commixture；　of　his　confessing　of　his　sins　and　unworthiness；　and　such　thankfulness　for　God's　pardon　and　mercies；　as　did　make　him　to　be　accounted；　even　by　God　himself；　to　be　a　man　after　his　own　heart：　and　let　us；　in　that；　labour　to　be　as　like　him　as　we　can；　let　not　the　blessings　we　receive　daily　from　God　make　us　not　to　value；　or　not　praise　Him；　because　they　be　common；　let　us　not　forget　to　praise　Him　for　the　innocent　mirth　and　pleasure　we　have　met　with　since　we　met　together。　What　would　a　blind　man　give　to　see　the　pleasant　rivers；　and　meadows；　and　flowers；　and　fountains；　that　we　have　met　with　since　we　met　together　？　I　have　been　told；　that　if　a　man　that　was　born　blind　could　obtain　to　have　his　sight　for　but　only　one　hour　during　his　whole　life；　and　should；　at　the　first　opening　of　his　eyes；　fix　his　sight　upon　the　sun　when　it　was　in　its　full　glory；　either　at　the　rising　or　setting　of　it；　he　would　be　so　transported　and　amazed；　and　so　admire　the　glory　of　it；　that　he　would　not　willingly　turn　his　eyes　from　that　first　ravishing　object；　to　behold　all　the　other　various　beauties　this　world　could　present　to　him。　And　this；　and　many　other　like　blessings；　we　enjoy　daily。　And　for　the　most　of　them；　because　they　be　so　common；　most　men　forget　to　pay　their　praises：　but　let　not　us；　because　it　is　a　sacrifice　so　pleasing　to　Him　that　made　that　sun　and　us；　and　still　protects　us；　and　gives　us　flowers；　and　showers；　and　stomachs；　and　meat；　and　content；　and　leisure　to　go　a…fishing。

Well；　Scholar；　I　have　almost　tired　myself；　and；　I　fear；　more　than　almost　tired　you。　But　I　now　see　Tottenham　High…Cross；　and　our　short　walk　thither　shall　put　a　period　to　my　too　long　discourse；　in　which　my　meaning　was；　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　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；　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　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　each　unworthy　ass：　Rich；　hated　wise；　suspected；　scorn'd　if　poor；　Great；　fear'd；　fair；　tempted；　high；　still　envy'd　more。　I　have　wish'd　all；　but　now　I　wish　for　neither。　Great；　high；　rich；　wise；　nor　fair：　poor　I'll　be　rather。

Would　the　World　now　adopt　me　for　her　heir；　Would　beauty's　Queen　entitle　me　the　fair；　Fame　speak　me　for