46 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



There is also a fish called, by ^Elian, in his 9th book of 

 Living Creatures, chap. 16, the Adonis, or darling of the 

 sea ; so called because it is a loving and innocent fish, 

 a fish that hurts nothing that hath life, and is at peace 

 with all the numerous inhabitants of that vast watery 

 element : and truly I think most anglers are so disposed 

 to most of mankind. 



And there are also lustful and chaste fishes, of which 

 I shall give you examples. 



And first Du Bartas says of a fish called the sargus ; 

 which, because none can express it better than he does, 

 I shall give you in his own words ; supposing it shall not 

 have the less credit for being in verse ; for he hath 

 gathered this and other observations out of authors that 

 have been great and industrious searchers into the 

 secrets of nature. 



The adulterous sargus doth not only change 



Wives every day, in the deep streams, but, strange 1 



As if the honey of sea-love delight 



Could not suffice his raging appetite, 



Goes courting she-goats on the grassy shore, 



Horning their husbands that had horns before. 



And the same author writes concerning the cantharus 

 that which you shall also hear in his own words : 



But, contrary, the constant cantharus 

 Is ever constant to his faithful spouse ; 

 In nuptial duties spending his chaste life ; 

 Never loves any but his own dear wife. 



Sir, but a little longer, and I have done. 



VEN. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for your 

 discourse seems to be music, and charms me to an 

 attention. 



Pise. Why then, Sir, I will take a liberty to tell, or 

 rather to remember you what is said of turtle-doves : 

 first, that they silently plight their troth, and marry ; 

 and that then the survivor scorns, as the Thracian 



