AUTHORS ON SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 21 



His muscles tense, each tendon on the rack, 



Of sweUing limbs, broad loins, and sinewy back. 



Mark yon fine form, erect with rigid brow, 



Like stately statue sculptured at the prow. 



From wary hand who pays the loosening rein 



Manoeuvring holds, or lets it run again ! 



And see ! the anthia not a moment flags. 



Resists each pull, and 'gainst the dragger drags ; 



With lashing tail, to darkest depths below 



Shoots headlong down, in hopes t' evade the foe. 



* Now ply your oars, my lads ! ' Piscator bawls ; 



The huge fish plunges — down Piscator falls ! 



A second plunge, and, lo ! th' ensanguined twine 



Flies through his fissured fingers to the brine. 



As two strong combatants of balanced might 



Force first essay, then practise every sleight, 



So these contend — awhile a well-matched pair — 



Till frantic efforts by degrees impair 



The anthia's strength, who, drain'd of vital blood, 



Soon staggers feebly through the foaming flood. 



Then dying, turns his vast unwieldy bulk 



Reversed upon the waves, a floating hulk. 



Tow'd to his side, with joy Piscator sees 



The still leviathin ; still on his knees, 



With arms outstretch'd, close clasps the gurgling throat, 



Makes one long pull and hauls him in the boat." 



There is a true piscatorial ring about these lines. So 

 there is in the following, which describes the troller making 

 ready his line for the capture of sea fish, much after the 

 fashion of modern trollers in fresh water, with a dace or 

 gudgeon on their gorge-hook : — 



"He holds the labrax, and beneath his head 

 Adjusts with care an oblong shape of lead. 

 Named from its form a dolphin ; plumb'd with this 

 The bait shoots headlong through the blue abyss. 

 The bright decoy a living creature seems, 

 As now on this side, now on that, it gleams. 

 Till some dark form across its passage flit, 

 Pouches the lure, and finds the biter's bit." 



