EDITED BY RICHARD LE GALLIENNE
ILLUSTRATED BY EDMUND H. NEW

JOHN LANE: THE BODLEY HEAD
LONDON & NEW YORK. MDCCCCIV

WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

TRANSFER FROM C. D.

799

W

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ROBERT OFFLEY ASHBURTON

EARL OF CREWE

OF MADELEY MANOR, IN THE COUNTY OF

STAFFORD, THIS NEW EDITION OF

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER IS

HUMBLY DEDICATED

Lord of the Madeley peace, the quiet grass,
The lilied pond, and muffled sleepy mill;
Lord of each legendary fish that swims
Deep down and swift beneath that emerald glass;
While, soft as shadows, round its grassy rims
The patient anglers move from east to west,
Patient at morn, at evening patient still—
Peace, if not fish, was theirs, and peace is best:
To you, John Offley's far-descended son,
What to your grandsire-past computing "great"—
Our Walton gave is here re-dedicate;
Heirloom of ancient friendship friendly still
In this old book, though all the talk be done.

R. LE G.

16900