THE COMPLETE ANGLER 51 



And he that reads Plutarch shall find that angling was 

 not contemptible in the days of Mark Antony and 

 Cleopatra, and that they, in the midst of their wonderful 

 glory, used angling as a principal recreation.* And let 

 me tell you, that in the Scripture, angling is always taken 

 in the best sense, and that though hunting may be some- 

 times so taken, yet it is but seldom to be so understood. 

 And let me add this more, he that views the ancient 

 ecclesiastical canons, shall find hunting to be forbidden 

 to churchmen, as being a turbulent, toilsome, perplexing 

 recreation ; and shall find angling allowed to clergy- 

 men, as being a harmless recreation, a recreation that 

 invites them to contemplation and quietness. 



I might here enlarge myself by telling you, what com- 



* I must here so far differ from my author, as to say, that if 

 angling was not contemptible in the days of Mark Antony and 

 Cleopatra, that illustrious prostitute endeavoured to make it so. 

 The fact related by Plutarch is the following : 



" It would be very tedious and trifling to recount all his follies ; 

 but his fishing must not be forgot. He went out one day to angle 

 with Cleopatra ; and being so unfortunate as to catch nothing in 

 the presence of his mistress, he was very much vexed, and gave secret 

 orders to the fishermen to dive under water, and put fishes that had 

 been fresh taken upon his hook. After he had drawn up two or 

 three, Cleopatra perceived the trick ; she pretended, however, 

 to be surprised at his good fortune and dexterity, told it to all her 

 friends, and invited them to come and see him fish the next day. 

 Accordingly, a very large company went out in the fishing-vessels ; 

 and as soon as Antony had let down his line, she commanded one 

 of her servants to be beforehand with Antony's, and, diving into 

 the water, to fix upon his hook a salted fish, one of those which were 

 brought from the Euxine Sea." 



[Shakespeare, no doubt, read the above passage from Plutarch ; 

 for in his play of Antony and Cleopatra we find the following 

 verses : 



" Cleopatra. Give me mine angle. We'll to the river ; there, 



My music playing far off, I will betray 



Tawny-finn'd fishes : my bended hook shall pierce 



Their slimy jaws ; and as I draw them up, 



I'll think them every one an Antony, 



And say, " Ah, ha I you're caught.' 

 Charmian. 'Twas merry, when 



You wager'd on your angling ; when your diver 



Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he 



With fervency drew up.'' Act II., Scene 5.] 



