15 



But, in the wicker prison w ill detain 



Theslipp'ry eel descending to the main; 



By whom a time for flying will be chose, 



When now the stream a safe return allows, 



And swoln with wintry show'rs o'er all its borders flows. 



But, as a leader, who attempts to go 



By night in secret, to elude the foe, 



Will find the foe prepar'd to stop his flight, 



And equally befriended by the night : 



So with the fisherman, with timely care 



In muddy streams the flying Eel ensnare, 



An$ nets to stop the fugitive prepare. 



The Carp, the native of th* Italian Lar, * 

 And Whiting standing waters will prefer; 

 And Blease, and Umbles, like an ancient trout, 

 Tho' weak in fight, yet threacning with their snout; 

 For tho' sharp teeth in triple ranks are shown, 

 Whole nations fly before the pike alone j 

 Fierce to destroy with blood the stream he stains ; 

 For courage, and not strength, the conquest gains, f 



The 



* Venice is described in Purchases Pilgrimes, as 

 ^ .. a riche toun of spicery : 



And of aile other marchandise also, 

 And right well vitelet therto ; 

 And namely of fresche water fische, 

 Pike, Eile, Tench, Carpe, I wis : 



Vol. II. p. 1236, Ed. 16*5. 



" The Carp is a stately, and very subtle fish, stiled the fresh- water fox, 

 and queen of rivers ; he is originally of foreign growth; Mr. Mascall a Sus- 

 sex gentleman, having the honour of first bringing them hither, about the 

 year 1^24, Ann. Reg. 15 Hen. VIII. Dr. Heylin informs us that, 



Reformation, turkeys, carps, hops, and beer, 

 Came all into England in the same year. 



And as Sussex had the first, so does it at this time abound with more/ 

 ttrps than any other county." Wbo!e Art of Fish ng y 1714. 



f *'The pike is the pirate of the lake, that roves and preyes upon the 



little 



