32 The Complete Angler 



nests, and of so various forms, and so wonderfully 

 made, as may beget -wonder and amusement in any 

 beholder ; and so many hundred of other rarities in 

 that collection, as will make the other wonders I 

 spake of, the less incredible ; for, you may note, that 

 the waters are Nature's store-house, in which she 

 locks up her wonders. 



But, Sir, lest this discourse may seem tedious, I 

 shall give it a sweet conclusion out of that holy poet, 

 Mr. George Herbert his divine " Contemplation on 

 God's Providence". 



Lord ! who hath praise enough, nay, who hath any ? 

 None can express thy works, but he that knows them ; 

 And none can know thy works, they are so many, 

 And so complete, but only he that owes them. 



We all acknowledge both thy power and love 

 To be exact, transcendant, and divine ; 

 Who dost so strangely and so sweetly move, 

 Whilst all things have their end, yet none but thine. 



Wherefore, most sacred Spirit 1 I here present, 

 For me, and all my fellows, praise to thee ; 

 And just it is, that I should pay the rent, 

 Because the benefit accrues to me. 



And as concerning fish, in that psalm, wherein, 

 for height of poetry and wonders, the prophet David 

 seems even to exceed himself, how doth he there 

 express himself in choice metaphors, even to the 

 amazement of a contemplative reader, concerning 

 the sea, the rivers, and the fish therein contained ! 

 And the great naturalist Pliny says, " That nature's 

 great and wonderful power is more demonstrated in 

 the sea than on the land ". And this may appear, by 

 the numerous and various creatures inhabiting both 

 in and about that element ; as to the readers of 

 Gesner, Rondeletius, Pliny, Ausonius, Aristotle, and 

 others, may be demonstrated. But I will sweeten 



