Introduction to The Compleat Angler | Page 3

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ANDREW LANG'S INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPLEAT
ANGLER

To write on Walton is, indeed, to hold a candle to the sun. The editor
has been content to give a summary of the chief or rather the only
known, events in Walton's long life, adding a notice of his character as
displayed in his Biographies and in The Compleat Angler, with
comments on the ancient and modern practice of fishing, illustrated by
passages from Walton's foregoers and contemporaries. Like all editors
of Walton, he owes much to his predecessors, Sir John Hawkins, Oldys,
Major, and, above all, to the learned Sir Harris Nicolas.
HIS LIFE
The few events in the long life of Izaak Walton have been carefully
investigated by Sir Harris Nicolas. All that can be extricated from
documents by the alchemy of research has been selected, and I am
unaware of any important acquisitions since Sir Harris Nicolas's second
edition of 1860. Izaak was of an old family of Staffordshire yeomen,
probably descendants of George Walton of Yoxhall, who died in 1571.
Izaak's father was Jarvis Walton, who died in February 1595-6; of
Izaak's mother nothing is known. Izaak himself was born at Stafford,
on August 9, 1593, and was baptized on September 21. He died on
December 15, 1683, having lived in the reigns of Elizabeth, James I.,
Charles I., under the Commonwealth, and under Charles II. The
anxious and changeful age through which he passed is in contrast with
his very pacific character and tranquil pursuits.
Of Walton's education nothing is known, except on the evidence of his
writings. He may have read Latin, but most of the books he cites had
English translations. Did he learn his religion from 'his mother or his
nurse'? It will be seen that the free speculation of his age left him
untouched: perhaps his piety was awakened, from childhood, under the
instruction of a pious mother. Had he been orphaned of both parents (as

has been suggested) he might have been less amenable to authority, and
a less notable example of the virtues which Anglicanism so vainly
opposed to Puritanismism. His literary beginnings are obscure. There
exists a copy of a work, The Loves of Amos and Laura, written by S. P.,
published in 1613, and again in 1619. The edition of 1619 is dedicated
to 'Iz. Wa.':-
'Thou being cause IT IS AS NOW IT IS';
the Dedication does not occur in the one imperfect known copy of 1613.
Conceivably the words, 'as now it is' refer to the edition of 1619, which
might have been emended by Walton's advice. But there are no
emendations, hence it is more probable that Walton revised the poem in
1613, when he was a man of twenty, or that he merely advised the
author to publish:-
'For, hadst thou held