, TO WHICH IS ADDED THE
CONTEMPLATIVE AND PRACTICAL ANGLER. In this book the furious Franck
first pays Walton the flattery of imitation, and then further adorns
him with abuse, calling THE COMPLEAT ANGLER "an indigested octavo,
stuffed with morals from Dubravius and others," and more than
hinting that the father of anglers knew little or nothing of "his
uncultivated art." Walton was a Churchman and a Loyalist, you see,
while Franck was a Commonwealth man and an Independent.
The second detractor of Walton was Lord Byron, who wrote
"The quaint, old, cruel coxcomb in his gullet
Should have a hook, and a small trout to pull it."
But Byron is certainly a poor authority on the quality of mercy.
His contempt need not cause an honest man overwhelming distress. I
should call it a complimentary dislike.
The third author who expressed unpleasant sentiments in regard to
Walton was Leigh Hunt. Here, again, I fancy that partizan prejudice
had something to do with the dislike. Hunt was a radical in
politics and religion. Moreover there was a feline strain in his
character, which made it necessary for him to scratch somebody now
and then, as a relief to his feelings.
Walton was a great quoter. His book is not "stuffed," as Franck
jealously alleged, but it is certainly well sauced with piquant
references to other writers, as early as the author of the Book of
Job, and as late as John Dennys, who betrayed to the world THE
SECRETS OF ANGLING in 1613.
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