34 The Secrets of Angling. 



Yet to content the willing Readers eare, 



I will not spare the sad report to tell, 



When good Deucalion and his Pirrha deere, 



Were onely left vpon the earth to dwell 



Of all the rest that ouenvhelmed were 



With that great floud, that in their dayes befell, 



Wherein the compasse of the world so round, 



Both man and beast with waters deepe were droumi. 



Between themselues they wept and made great moane, 



How to repaire againe the wofull fall, 



Of all mankinde, whereof they two alone 



The remnant were, and wretched portion small, 



But any meanes or hope in them was none, 



That might restore so great a losse with all, 



Since they were aged, and in yeares so runne, 

 That now almost their threed of life was spunne. 



Vntill at last they saw where as there stood 

 An ancient Temple, wasted and forlorne ; 

 Whose holy fires and sundry offerings good, 

 The late outragious waues away had borne : 

 But when at length downe fallen was the flood, 

 The waters low it proudly gan to scorne. 



Vnto that place they thought it best to goe, 

 The counsell of the Goddesse there to know. 



For long before that fearfull Deluge great, 



The vniuersall Earth had ouerflowne ; 



A heauenly power there placed had her seate, 



And answeres gaue of hidden things vnknowne. 



Thither they went her fauour to intreat, 



Whose fame throughout that coast abroad was blowne. 

 By her aduice some way or meane to findc, 

 How to renew the race of humane kind. 



