The Fourth Day 149 



days of their Solomon, who knew the nature of all 

 things, even from the cedar to the shrub, delivered 

 by tradition, from the father to the son, and so from 

 generation to generation, without writing ; or, unless 

 it were casually, without the least communicating 

 them to any other nation or tribe ; for to do that 

 they account a profanation. And, yet, it is thought 

 that they, or some spirit worse than they, first told 

 us, that lice, swallowed alive, were a certain cure 

 for the yellow-jaundice. This, and many other 

 medicines, were discovered by them, or by revela- 

 tion ; for, doubtless, we attained them not by study. 



Well, this fish, besides his eating, is very useful, 

 both dead and alive, for the good of mankind. 

 But I will meddle no more with that, my honest, 

 humble art teaches no such boldness : there are too 

 many foolish meddlers in phj'sick and divinity that 

 think themselves fit to meddle with hidden secrets, 

 and so bring destruction to their followers. But 

 I'll not meddle with them, any farther than to wish 

 them wiser; and shall tell you next, for I hope I 

 may be so bold, that the Tench is the physician of 

 fishes, for the Pike especially, and that the Pike, 

 being either sick or hurt, is cured by the touch of 

 the Tench. And it is observed that the tyrant 

 Pike will not be a wolf to his physician, but forbears 

 to devour him though he be never so hungry. 



This fish, that carries a natural balsam in him 

 to cure both himself and others, loves yet to feed in 

 very foul water, and amongst weeds. And }^et, I 

 am sure, he eats pleasantly, and, doubtless, you will 

 think so too, if you taste him. And I shall there- 

 fore proceed to give you some few, and but a few, 

 directions how to catch this Tench, of which I have 

 given you these observations. 



He will bite at a paste made of brown bread and 

 honey, or at a Marsh- worm, or a lob-worm ; he 



