32 LITERATURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



or in the glowings of summer, in the fruits of autumn or tlie 

 frosts of winter ; you are not solicitous about the hours or days, 

 months or years, the variableness of weather or changes of 

 seasons. In what dreadful majesty, in what wonderful power, in 

 what amazing providence, did God Almighty distinguish you 

 among all the species of creatures that perished in the universal 

 deluge ! You only were insensible of the mischief that laid 

 waste the whole world. All this, as I have already told you, ought 

 to inspire you with gratitude and praise to the Divine Majesty 

 that has done so great things for you, granted you such particular 

 graces and privileges, and heaped upon you such distinguishing 

 favours ; and since all this you cannot employ your tongues with 

 praises of your benefactor, and are not provided with words to 

 express your gratitude, make at least some sign of reverence : 

 bow yourselves at his name ; give some show of gratitude ; 

 according to the best of your capacities express your thanks in 

 the most becoming manner you are able, and be not unmindful 

 of all the benefits that he has bestowed on you.' " 



He had no sooner done speaking, than, behold a miracle ! 

 The fish, as though they had been endowed w^ith reason, 

 bowed down their heads with all the marks of profound 

 humility and devotion, moving their bodies up and down 

 with a kind of fondness, as approving what had been spoken 

 by the blessed Father St. Antonio. 



The legend adds, that after many heretics who were 

 present at the miracle had been converted by it, the saint 

 gave his benediction to the fishes and dismissed them. 



Several of the like stories of St. Anthony are repre- 

 sented about his monument in a basso-relievo. 



There is very little indeed in the way of anything on 

 ichthyological literature to dwell on between the close of 

 the tenth century and the introduction of printing. It was 

 a period very barren of all kinds of literature. Blakey 

 presses into the service of angling literature of this period 

 Juan Ruiz, a Spaniard, who wrote a poem called The Battle 



