Book Description

Excerpt from Izaak Walton's Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Richard Hooker and George Herbert: With an Introduction I F that great master of language and art, Sir Henry Wot ton, the late Provost of Eton College, had lived to see the publication of these sermons, he had presented the world with the author's life exactly written; and 'twas pity he did not, for it was a work worthy his undertaking, and he fit to undertake it: betwixt whom and the author there was so mutual a knowledge, and such a friendship con tracted in their youth, as nothing but death could force a separation. And, though their bodies were divided, their affections were not; for that learned knight's love fol lowed his friend's fame beyond death and the forgetful grave, which he testified by entreating me, whom he acquainted with his design, to inquire of some particulars that concerned it, not doubting but my knowledge of the author, and love to his memory, might make my diligence useful. I did most gladly undertake the employment, and continued it with great content, till I had made my col lection ready to be augmented and completed by his matchless pen; but then death prevented his inten trons. When I heard that sad news, and heard also that these sermons were to be printed, and want the author's life, which I thought to be very remarkable; indignation or grief - indeed I know not which - transported me so far, that I reviewed my forsaken collections, and resolved the world should see the best plain picture of the author's life that my artless pencil, guided by the hand of truth, could present to it. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.