ENGLISH POETS ON FISHING. 115 



scarce some years ago ; but they have shown in greater 

 numbers during the last two or three seasons ; and it is 

 evident that under proper treatment the Trent might be 

 made a good salmon river. There are no Crayfish in the 

 Trent now, and probably never were, notwithstanding what 

 Drayton puts into the mouth of the lady river. The "less" 

 mentioned in connection with the lamprey means the 

 lamperne. 



Milton can hardly be called a piscatorial poet, though he 

 sings of the evolutions of the myriads of "the voiceless 

 daughters of the unpolluted sea " (-^schylus), which — 



" Part single or with mate 

 Graze the seaweed, their pasture, and through groves 

 Of coral stray ; or sporting with quick glance, 

 Show to the sun their waved coats dropp'd with gold ; 

 Or from their pearly shells come forth to seek 

 Moist nutriment ; or under rocks their food, 

 In jointed armour watch." 



But, oh, the fall from Milton to William Browne ! and 

 yet the author of Britannia! s Pastorals, published 161 3, may 

 claim some attention from angling readers, who, however, 

 will hardly think that a pike in the following passage is a 

 good selection as a worm-taking fish, or the suggestion that 

 the line should be handled a proper one — 



" Now as an Angler, melancholy standing, 

 Upon a greene bancke yeelding roome for landing, 

 A wrigling yealow worme thrust on his hooke 

 Now in the midst he throwes, then in a nooke ; 

 Here puis his line, there throwes it in againe, 

 Mendeth his Corke and Baite, but all in vaine. 

 He long stands viewing of the curled stream ; 

 At last a hungry Pike, or well-growne Breame, 

 Snatch at the worme, and hasting fast away, 

 He, knowing it a Fish of stubborne sway, 

 Puis up his rod, but soft ; (as having skill) ; 

 Wherewith the hooke fast holds the Fishe's gill — 



I 2 



