THE NEW SCIENCE AND PROSE 149 



made experiments after the manner of the new scientists. "I have 

 seen," he says, "and may therefore affirm it". 7 There were some 

 things that were required to have the confirmation of his senses 

 to gain his belief. "And you are to know, that in Hampshire, 

 which I think exceeds all England for swift, shallow, clear, pleasant 

 brooks, and store of Trouts, they used to catch Trouts in the night, 

 by the light of a Trout-spear, or other ways. This kind of way 

 they catch very many ; but I would not believe it till I was an eye 

 witness of it". 8 



This lover of sport understands the passion for curiosities that 

 actuated the antiquaries. ' ' These, to any that love learning, must 

 be pleasing". 9 The monument of Livy, "the humble house in 

 which St. Paul was content to dwell", the bay-trees on the tomb 

 of Virgil are pleasing and profitable to see. 10 There is no astonish 

 ment, therefore, to discover that he is acquainted with the writings 

 of Meric Casaubon and is familiar with the collection of rarities 

 made by John Tradescant. 11 



This gentleman angler is an antiquarian and naturalist, living 

 to a great extent under the domination of ancient authority and 

 yet looking out upon rural England from the shade of his beloved 

 sycamore or from the shelter of his favorite hedge with open eyes 

 and with keen and accurate observation. * ' It may not be improper 

 here to take notice, that in this, and several other parts of the 

 book, the facts related by the author do most remarkably coincide 

 with later discoveries of the most diligent and sagacious natural 

 ists". 12 There is a simplicity here that Sprat would praise; there 

 is a quaintness, too, that gives distinction and personality; and in 

 many places there is a realism struggling with ornateness for free 

 expression. "But the nightingale, another of my airy creatures, 

 breathes sweet loud music out of her little instrumental throat, 

 that it might make mankind to think miracles are not yet ceased. 

 He that at midnight, when the very labourer sleeps securely, should 

 hear, as I have very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the 



7 The Complete Angler, p. 96. 



8 Ibid. p. 117. 

 8 Ibid. p. 34. 



10 Ibid. p. 42. 



11 Ibid. 



12 The Complete Angler, Editor, p. 123. 



