THE COMPLETE ANGLER 45 



God quicken'd in the sea, and in the rivers, 



So many fishes of so many features, 



That in the waters we may see all creatures, 



Even all that on the earth are to be found, 



As if the world were in deep waters drown'd. 



For seas as well as skies have sun, moon, stars ; 



As well as air swallows, rooks, and stares ; 



As well as earth vines, roses, nettles, melons, 



Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 



Of other plants, more rare, more strange than these, 



As very fishes, living in the seas ; 



As also rams, calves, horses, hares, and hogs, 



Wolves, urchins, lions, elephants, and dogs ; 



Yea, men and maids ; and, which I most admire, 



The mitred bishop and the cowled friar ; 



Of which, examples, but a few years since, 



Were shown the Norway and Polonian prince. 



These seem to be wonders, but have had so many 

 confirmations from men of learning and credit, that you 

 need not doubt them ; nor are the number, nor the 

 various shapes of fishes, more strange or more fit for 

 contemplation, than their different natures, inclinations 

 and actions ; concerning which I shall beg your patient 

 ear a little longer. 



The cuttle-fish will cast a long gut out of her throat, 

 which, like as an angler doth his line, she sendeth forth 

 and pulleth in again at her pleasure, according as she sees 

 some little fish come near to her ; and the cuttle-fish, 

 being then hid in the gravel, lets the smaller fish nibble 

 and bite the end of it, at which time she by little and 

 little draws the smaller fish so near to her, that she may 

 leap upon her, and then catches and devours her : and 

 for this reason some have called this fish the sea-angler. 



And there is a fish called a hermit, that at a certain age 

 gets into a dead fish's shell, and like a hermit dwells there 

 alone, studying the wind and weather, and so turns her 

 shell, that she makes it defend her from the injuries that 

 they would bring upon her. 



