112 LITERATURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



beginning of the seventeenth century, his Polyolbioii having 

 been published in 1613. Hymning many rivers, "our 

 flood's Queen, Thames," " the stately Severn," and " the 

 crystal Trent," he naturally sings of their inhabitants, 

 mention being made of them in the 6th, 25th, and 26th 

 " Songs " of the Polyolbion, and other of his compositions. 

 In one he introduces a woodman, a shepherd, and a fisher- 

 man, each extolling the merits of his vocation ; and it is 

 just possible that Walton got from this his idea of "inter- 

 locutors." Anyhow, he was on intimate terms with Walton, 

 who speaks of him as " Michael Drayton, my honest old 

 friend," just before quoting from the Po/yo/bion the descrip- 

 tion of the salmon leaping, which runs thus : — 



" And when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find 

 (Which hither from the sea comes, yearly, by his kind). 

 As he towards season grows ; and stems the wat'ry tract 

 Where Tzv_y, falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forc'd by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As tho' within her bounds they meant her to inclose ; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive, 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and, bending like a bow 

 That's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw, 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That bended end to end, and started from man's hand. 

 Far off itself doth cast ; so does the Salmon vault : 

 And if, at first, he fail, his second summersault 

 He instantly essays, and, from his nimble ring 

 Still yerking, never leaves until himself he fling 

 Above the opposing stream." 



We hope we shall not be considered guilty of heresy 

 when we venture to suggest that these lines seem to lag 

 somewhat, wanting in a kind of " quickness " which would 

 be suitable to the subject. His enumeration of the various 

 fish which inhabit the Trent, second only as it is to the 

 Thames for its prolificness in variety of species, is always 



