34 



But when their prayVs the gods no longer heard, 

 They draw 'em in the stream to be interr'd: 

 Soon as their lifeless limbs had touch d the wave, 

 Another form they to the children gave : 

 Each hand contracted in a fin appears, 

 And the rough skin a scaly substance wears ; 

 The form of a hook'd tail united, took 

 Their feet and legs ; the tenant of the brook 

 To stem the adverse waves unceasing tries; 

 Resembling youth in manners and in size. 

 For these are always small : by turns we see 

 They sport and fret, now quarrel, now agree; 

 And still like what they were before remain, 

 Peevish in play, yet loath to leave the train. 

 Now to the caution of the Muse attend, 

 Your fish from nightly robbers to defend; 

 Boards at the bottom arm'd with spikes prepare, 

 To catch the net and disappoint the snare. 

 But those are most destructive, who, with food, 

 Throw poison mixt or lime into the flood; 

 Soon as infected, tortur'd with the pain, 

 The fish shoots swiftly thro' the wat'ry plain ; 

 Or giddily in various circles swims, 

 And just the surface of the water skims, 

 To fan his lungs with draughts of vital air, 

 And cool the scorching heat that rages there. 

 But still the pois'nous drugs his breast torment ; 

 And now his strength is gone, his vigour spent j 

 Now he sucks in his last remains of breath, 

 Supinely floating on the waves in death. 

 Ev'n the dire author of the mischief grieves, 

 When, for a paltry gain, he thus perceives i 



The lakes exhausted of their scaly breed, 

 And blames the arts from whence such ills proceed. 



Now 



