Daily Poetry Readings #209: To...Mr Isaac Walton by Charles Cotton read by Dr Iain McGilchrist

Part 209 of a daily series of readings of his favourite poetry by Dr Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and His Emissary. Today's poem is To My Dear and Most Worthy Friend, Mr Isaac Walton by Charles Cotton.

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~ To My Dear and Most Worthy Friend, Mr Isaac Walton by Charles Cotton ~

Whilst in this cold and blust'ring Clime
Where bleak winds how I, and Tempests roar,
We pass away the roughest time
Has been of many years before;
Whilst from the most tempest'ous Nooks
The chillest Blasts our peace invade,
And by great Rains our smallest Brooks
Are almost navigable made;
Whilst all the ills are so improv'd
Of this dead quarter of the year,
That even you, so much belov'd,
We would not now wish with us here;
In this estate, I say, it is
Some comfort to us to suppose,
That in a better Clime than this
You our dear Friend have more repose;

And some delight to me the while,
Though nature now does weep in Rain,
To think that I have seen her smile,
And haply may I do again.
If the all-ruling Power please
We live to see another May,
We'll recompence an Age of these
Foul days in one fine fishing day:
We then shall have a day or two,
Perhaps a week, wherein to try,
What the best Master's hand can doe
With the most deadly killing Flie:
A day without too bright a Beam,
A warm, but not a scorching Sun,
A Southern gale to curl the Stream,
And (Master) half our work is done.
There whilst behind some bush we wait
The Scaly People to betray,
We'll prove it just with treach'rous Bait
To make the preying Trout our prey;

And think our selves in such an hour
Happier than those, though not so high,
Who, like Leviathans, devour
Of meaner men the smaller Fry.
This (my best Friend) at my poor Home
Shall be our Pastime and our Theme,
But then should you not deign to come
You make all this a flatt'ring Dream.

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