The Secrets of Angling. 39 



Not that I take upon mee to impart 



More then by others hath before beene told ; 



Or that the hidden secrets of this Art 



I would vnto the vulgar sort vnfolde, 



Who peraduenture for my paines desart 



Would count me worthy BaJams horse to holde : 



But oncly to the willing learner show 



So much thereof as may suffise to know. 



But here, O Neptune^ that with triple Mace 



Dost rule the raging of the Ocean wide ; 



I meddle not with thy deformed race 



Of monsters huge, that in those waues abide : 



With that great Whale, that by three whole dayes space 



The man of God did in his belly hide, 



And cast him out vpon the Euxin shore 

 As safe and sound as he had beene before. 



Nor with that Orkc that on Cephcean strand 

 Would haue deuour'd Atidremeda the faire. 

 Whom Perseus slew with strong and valiant hand, 

 Deliuering her from danger and despaire, 

 The Hin-lepoole huge that higher then the land, 

 Whole streames of water spouteth in the ayre, 



The Porpois large that playing swims on hie, 

 Portending stormes or other tempest nie. 



Nor that admirer of sweet Musickes sound, 

 That on his backe Arion bore away ; 

 And brought to shore out of the Seas profound, 

 The Hippotame that like an horse doth neigh, 

 The Mors^ that from the rockes inrolled round, 

 Within his teeth himself doth safe conuay: 



The Tortoise couered with his target hard, 

 The Tuberone attended with his guard. 



