|
WALTONIANA
WALTONIANA ISAAK WALTON INEDITED REMAINS IN VERSE AND
PROSE OF IZAAK WALTON
AUTHOR OF THE COMPLETE ANGLER
_WITH NOTES AND PREFACE_
BY
RICHARD HERNE SHEPHERD
LONDON
1878
CONTENTS.
1633. I. An Elegie upon Dr. Donne.
1635. II. Lines on a Portrait of Donne.
1638. III. Commendatory Verses prefixed to The Merchants Mappe of
Commerce.
1645. IV. Preface to Quarles' Shepherds Oracles.
1650. V. Couplet on Dr. Richard Sibbes.
1651. VI. Dedication of Reliquiae Wottonianae.
VII. On the Death of William Cartwright.
1652. VIII. Preface to Sir John Skeffington's Heroe of Lorenzo.
IX. Commendatory Verses to the Author of Scintillula Altaris.
1658. X. Dedication of the Life of Donne and Advertisement to the
Reader.
1660. XI. Daman and Dorus: An humble Eglog.
1661. XII. To my Reverend Friend the Author of The Synagogue.
1662. XIII. Epitaph on his Second Wife Anne Ken.
1670. XIV. Letter to Edward Ward.
1672. XV. Dedication of the Third Edition of Reliquiae Wottonianae.
1673. XVI. Letter to Marriott.
1678. XVII. Preface &c. to Thealma & Clearchus.
1680. XVIII. Letter to John Aubrey.
1683. XIX. Izaak Walton's Last Will and Testament.
PREFACE.
Few men who have written books have been able to win so large a share of
the personal affection of their readers as honest Izaak Walton has done
and few books are laid down with so genuine a feeling of regret as the
"Complete Angler" certainly is that they are no longer. "One of the
gentlest and tenderest spirits of the seventeenth century" we all know
his dear old face with its cheerful happy serene look and we should
all have liked to accompany him on one of those angling excursions from
Tottenham High Cross and to have listened to the quaint garrulous
sportive talk the outcome of a religion which was like his homely garb
not too good for every-day wear. We see him now diligent in his business
now commemorating the virtues of that cluster of scholars and churchmen
with whose friendship he was favoured in youth and teaching his young
brother-in-law Thomas Ken to walk in their saintly footsteps--now
busy with his rod and line or walking and talking with a friend staying
now and then to quaff an honest glass at a wayside ale-house--leading a
simple cheerful blameless life
"Thro' near a century of pleasant years."[1]
We have said that the reader regrets that Walton should have left so
little behind him: his "Angler" and his Lives are all that is known to
most. But we are now enabled to present those who love his memory with
a collection of fugitive pieces in verse and prose extending in date
of composition over a period of fifty years--beginning with the Elegy
on Donne in 1633 and terminating only with his death in 1683. All these
however unambitious are more or less characteristic of the man and
impregnated with the same spirit of genial piety that distinguishes the
two well-known books to which they form a supplement.
Walton's devotion to literature must have begun at an early age; for in
a little poem entitled _The Love of Amos and Laura_ published in 1619
when he was only twenty-six and attributed variously to Samuel Purchas
author of "The Pilgrims" and to Samuel Page we find the following
dedication to him:--
"TO MY APPROVED AND MUCH RESPECTED FRIEND IZ. WA.
"To thee thou more then thrice beloved friend
I too unworthy of so great a blisse:
These harsh-tun'd lines I here to thee commend
Thou being cause it is now as it is:
For hadst thou held thy tongue by silence might
These have beene buried in obliuious night.
"If they were pleasing I would call them thine
And disauow my title to the verse:
But being bad I needes must call them mine.
No ill thing can be cloathed in thy verse.
Accept them then and where I have offended
Rase thou it out and let it be amended.
"S.P." [2]
What poems Walton wrote in his youth we have now no means of knowing; it
has not been discovered that any have been printed unless we adopt the
theory advocated by Mr. Singer[3] and by a writer in the "Retrospective
Review"[4] that the poem of _Thealma and Clearchus_ which he published
in the last year of his life as a posthumous fragment of his relation
John Chalkhill was really a juvenile work of his own. Some plausibility
is lent to this notion by the fact that Walton speaks of the author with
so much reticence and reserve in his preface to the volume and also that
in introducing two of Chalkhill's songs into the "Complete Angler" he
does not bestow on them the customary words of commendation. This theory
has been rebutted by others who assert that Walton was of too truthful
and guileless a nature to resort to such an artifice. We confess that we
are unable to see anything dishonest in the adoption as a pseudonym of
the name of a deceased friend or anything more than Walton appears to
have done on another occasion when he published his two letters on "Love
and Truth." It is certain however that a family of Chalkhills existed
with whom Walton was closely connected by his marriage with the sister of
Bishop Ken. But that an "acquaintant and friend of Edmund Spenser"
capable of writing such a poem as _Thealma and Clearchus_ should have
kept his talents so concealed that in an age of commendatory verses no
slightest contemporary record of him exists--is to say the least
extraordinary. There are cogent arguments then on both sides of the
question and there is very little positive proof on either: so we must
be content to leave the matter in some doubt and obscurity.
The first production to which our author attached the well-known
signature of "Iz. Wa." was an Elegy on the Death of Dr. Donne the Dean
of St. Paul's prefixed to a collection of Donne's Poems. Walton was then
forty years of age. From this time forward we find him more or less
engaged at not very long intervals on literary labours till the very
year of his death.
The care which Walton spent on his productions seems to have been very
great. He wrote and re-wrote corrected amended rescinded and added.
This very poem--the Elegy on Donne--he completely remodelled in his old
age when he inserted it in the collection of his Lives. But we have
thought it well to give the original version here as a literary curiosity
and the first work of his that has come down to us. The original Lives
themselves--especially those of Wotton and Donne--were mere sketches of
what they are in their present enlarged form.
Walton had the good fortune to be thrown very early in life into the
society and intimacy of men who were his superiors in rank and education.
But he had enough of culture joined to his inherent reverence of mind
to appreciate and understand all that they had and he wanted.
The preface to Sir John Skeffington's _Heroe of Lorenzo_ had for two
centuries lain forgotten and escaped the notice of Walton's biographers
till in 1852 it was discovered by Dr. Bliss of Oxford and communicated by
him to the late William Pickering.
The original Spanish work was first published in 1630. The author's real
name was not Lorenzo but Balthazar Gracian a Jesuit of Aragon who
flourished during the first half of the seventeenth century when the
cultivated style took possession of Spanish prose and rose to its
greatest consideration.[5] It is a collection of short wise apothegms
and maxims for the conduct of life sometimes illustrated by stories of
valour or prowess or magnanimity of the old Castilian heroes who figure
in "Count Lucanor." The book though now no longer read must have been
very popular at one time for there exist two or three later English
versions of it without however the nervous concentration of style and
idiomatic diction that characterize the translation sent forth to the
world under Walton's auspices.
The two Letters published in 1680 under the title of Love and Truth[6]
were written respectively in the years 1668 and 1679. The evidence of
their authorship is twofold and we think quite conclusive. In one of the
very few copies known to exist and now in the library of Emanuel College
Cambridge its original possessor Archbishop Sancroft has written:--"Is.
Walton's 2 letters conc. ye Distemp's of ye Times 1680" and Dr. Zouch
appended to his reprint of the tract[7] a number of parallel passages
from other acknowledged writings of Walton of themselves almost
sufficient to fix the question on internal evidence alone.
In the British Museum copy of this tract is the following note on one of
the fly-leaves in the autograph of the late William Pickering:--
"The present is the only copy I have met with after twenty years'
search excepting the one in Emanuel College Cambridge. W. Pickering."
The copy described above [_i.e._ the Emanuel College copy] appears to
be the same edition as the present [that now in the British Museum] but
has the following variation. After the title-page is printed
The Author to the Stationer
"Mr. Brome" &c. and the Epistle ends with "Your friend" without the
N.N. which is found in this copy. But what is more remarkable the printed
word Author is run through and corrected with a pen and over it written
_Publisher_ which is evidently in the handwriting of Walton. So Mr.
Pickering further certifies.
The following allusion towards the bottom of p. 37 confirms the idea of
Walton's authorship. Speaking of Hugh Peters and John Lilbourn the writer
says:--"Their turbulent lives and uncomfortable deaths are not I hope yet
worn out of the memory of many. He that compares them with the holy life
and happy death of Mr. George Herbert as it is plainly and _I hope truly_
writ by Mr. Isaac Walton may in it find a perfect pattern for an humble
and devout Christian to imitate" &c.
The following are the chief parallel passages in this pamphlet and in
Walton's other writings as indicated by Zouch:--
_Second Letter_ _p. 19._ _Life of George Herbert._
I wish as heartily as you Mr. George Herbert having
do that all such Clergy-mens changed his sword and
Wives as have silk Cloaths silk clothes into a canonical
be-daubed with Lace and coat thus warned Mrs. Herbert
their heads hanged about against this egregious folly
with painted Ribands were of _striving for precedency_:--
enjoyned Penance for their "You are now a minister's
pride: And their Husbands wife and must now so far forget
punisht for being so tame or your father's house as not
so lovingly-simple as to suffer to claim a precedence of any
them; for by such Cloaths of your parishioners" &c.
they proclaim their own Ambition
and their Husbands folly.
And I say the like concerning
their _striving for Precedency_.
_P. 20._ _Life of George Herbert._
And I confess also what One cure for the wickedness
you say of a Clergy-mans of the times would be
bidding _to fast_ on the Eves of for the clergy themselves
Holy-days in Lent and the to keep the Ember-weeks
_Ember Weeks_: And I wish strictly &c.
those biddings were forborn
or better practised by themselves.
_P. 20._ _Life of George Herbert._
And I wish as heartily as Those ministers that huddled
you can that they would not up the church prayers
only read but pray the without a visible reverence
Common Prayer; and not and affection: namely such
huddle it up so fast (as too as semed to say the Lord's
many do) by getting into a Prayer or collect in a breath.
middle of a second Collect
before a devout Hearer can
say Amen to the first.
_Preface to Sanderson's XXI
_P. 20._ Sermons 1655._
And now having unbowelled But since I had thus adventured
my very soul thus to unbowel myself
freely to you &c. and to lay open the very inmost
thoughts of my heart.
_P.21._ _Life of Sanderton._
A Corrosive or (as _Solomon_ Riches so gotten and added
says of ill-gotten riches) to his great estate would
_like gravel in his teeth_. prove _like gravel in his teeth_.
_P. 21._ _Life of Sir H. Wotton._
Those _Bishops and Martyrs_ It was the advice of Sir
that assisted in this Reformation Henry Wotton "Take heed
did not (as Sir _Henry Wotton_ of thinking the farther you go
said wisely) think _the farther_ from the Church of Rome
they went from the Church of Rome the nearer you are to God."
the nearer they got to heaven.
_P. 23._ _Life of Richard Hooker._
To make the Women the Here the very women and
Shop-keepers and the middle- shopkeepers were able to judge
witted People ... less of predestination and determine
busie and more humble and what laws were fit to
lowly in their own eyes and be obeyed or abolished.
to think that they are neither
called nor are fit to meddle
with and judge of the most
hidden and mysterious points
in _Divinity_ and Government
of the _Church_ and _State_.
_P. 36._ _Life of Sanderson._
I desire you to look back Some years before the unhappy
with me to the beginning of Long Parliament this
the late Long Parliament nation being then happy and
1640 at which time we in peace.
were the quietest and happiest
people in the Christian World.
To the present Editor the collection and annotation of these Remains has
been a most welcome labour of love. Some of his oldest and most cherished
memories connect themselves with the author of the "Complete Angler." That
book was one of the first that he ever read with real and genuine delight;
and even before reading days commenced in the earliest dawn of memory
the place where Walton had cut his familiar signature of "Iz. Wa." on
Chaucer's tomb in Westminster Abbey was pointed out to him often by a
kindred spirit now here no more. The name of Walton will also be found
enshrined in the earliest prose production[8] to which the Editor
prefixed his own name.
R.H.S.
FOOTNOTES
[1] "Happy old man whose worth all mankind knows
Except himself who charitably shows
The ready road to Virtue and to Praise
The road to many long and happy days;
The noble arts of generous piety
And how to compass true felicity.
----he knows no anxious cares
Thro' near a Century of pleasant years;
Easy he lives and cheerful shall he die
Well spoken of by late posterity."
June 5 1683.
_(Flatman's Commendatory Verses prefixed to "Thealma and Clearchus;"
Poems and Songs by Thomas Flatman Third Edition.)_
[2] _The Love of Amos and Laura. Written by S.P. London. Printed for
Richard Hawkins dwelling in Chancery-Lane neere Serieants Inne
1619._ Printed at the end of a volume entitled _Alcilia Philoparthens
louing Folly &c._ which from its being signed at the end with the
initials "J.C." has been attributed to Walton's friend John
Chalkhill whose posthumous poem _Thealma and Clearchus_ he published
in the last year of his life. The lines to Walton do not appear in the
earlier quarto edition of the book issued by the same publisher in 1613
or in the later quarto of 1628.
[3] _Thealma and Clearchus; a Pastoral Romance by John Chalkhill.
First Published by Isaac Walton 1683. A New Edition. Revised and
Corrected (by S.W. Singer). Chiswick: 1820._
[4] Vol. iv. (1821) pp. 230-249.
[5] Ticknor's _History of Spanish Literature_ (Lond. 1849) vol. iii.
p. 177.
[6] _Love and Truth: / in / Two modest and peaceable / Letters /
concerning / The distempers of the present Times. / Written /
From a quiet and Conformable Citizen of / LONDON to two busie
and Factious/ Shop-keepers in Coventry./_
1 Pet. 4. 15.
But let none of you suffer as a busiebody in other mens /
matters. /
LONDON / Printed by _M.C._ for _Henry Brome_ at the Gun /
in St. _Pauls_ Church-yard. 1680.
COLLATION: 4to. pp. iv. (with Title) 40 (Sig. A 1 and 2;
B to E 4).
[7] York 1795 pp. x. 70.
[8] _The School of Pantagruel_ Sunbury 1862 p. 9.
* * * * *
AN ELEGIE UPON DR. DONNE.
1633.
[_Juvenilia: or Certaine Paradoxes and Problemes written by I. Donne.
London Printed by E.P. for Henry Seyle and are to be sold at the signe
of the Tygers head in Saint Pauls Church-yard Anno Dom_. 1633
(pp. 382-384)._
_Poems by J.D. with Elegies on the Author's Death. London. Printed by
M.F. for JOHN MARRIOT and are to be sold at his Shop in St. Dunstans
Church-yard in Fleet-street 1635._
The text is printed from the revised version of 1635 and the original
readings of 1633 are given at the foot of the page.]
_An Elegie upon_ DR. DONNE.
Our _Donne_ is dead; England should mourne may say
We had a man where language chose to stay
And shew her gracefull power.[1] I would not praise
That and his vast wit (which in these vaine dayes
Make many proud) but as they serv'd to unlock
That Cabinet his minde: where such a stock
Of knowledge was repos'd as all lament
(Or should) this generall cause of discontent.
And I rejoyce I am not so severe
But (as I write a line) to weepe a teare
For his decease; Such sad extremities
May make such men as I write Elegies.
And wonder not; for when a generall losse
Falls on a nation and they slight the crosse
God hath rais'd Prophets to awaken them
From stupifaction; witnesse my milde pen
Not us'd to upbraid the world though now it must
Freely and boldly for the cause is just.
Dull age Oh I would spare thee but th'art worse
Thou art not onely dull but hast a curse
Of black ingratitude; if not couldst thou
Part with _miraculous Donne_ and make no vow
For thee and thine successively to pay
A sad remembrance to his dying day?
Did his youth scatter _Poetry_ wherein
Was all Philosophy? was every sinne
Character'd in his _Satyrs_? Made so foule
That some have fear'd their shapes and kept their soule
Safer by reading verse? Did he give _dayes_
Past marble monuments to those whose praise
He would perpetuate? Did he (I feare
The dull will doubt:) these at his twentieth year?
But more matur'd; Did his full soule conceive
And in harmonious-holy-numbers weave
A [2]_Crown of sacred sonnets_ fit to adorne
A dying Martyrs brow: or to be worne
On that blest head of _Mary Magdalen_
After she wip'd Christs feet but not till then?
Did hee (fit for such penitents as shee
And he to use) leave us a _Litany_
Which all devout men love and sure it shall
As times grow better grow more classicall?
Did he write _Hymnes_ for piety for wit[3]
Equall to those great grave _Prudentius_ writ?
Spake he all _Languages_? knew he all Lawes?
The grounds and use of _Physick_; but because
'Twas mercenary wav'd it? Went to see
That blessed place of _Christs nativity_?
Did he returne and preach him? preach him so
...
|
