THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 6/ 



And the same author writes, concerning the 

 cantharus, that which you shall also hear in his 

 own words : 



" But, contrary, the constant cantharus 

 Is ever constant to his faithful spouse ; 

 In nuptial duties, spending his chaste life ; 

 Never loves any but his own dear wife." 



Sir, but a little longer, and I have done. 

 Ven. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for 

 your discourse seems to be music, and charms me 

 to an attention. 



Pise. Why then, sir, I will take a liberty to tell, 

 or rather to remember you what is said of turtle- 

 doves, first, that they silently plight their troth 

 and marry ; and that then the survivor scorns, as 

 the Thracian women are said to do, to outlive his 

 or her mate, and this is taken for a truth ; and if 

 the survivor shall ever couple with another, then 

 not only the living but the dead, be it either the 

 he or the she, is denied the name and honor of a 

 true turtle-dove. 



And to parallel this land-rarity, and to teach 

 mankind moral faithfulness, and to condemn those 

 that talk of religion and yet come short of the 

 moral faith of fish and fowl, men that violate the 

 law affirmed by Saint Paul (Rom. ii. 14, 15, 16) to 

 be writ in their hearts, and which he says shall at the 

 last day condemn and leave them without excuse, 

 I pray hearken to what Du Bartas sings, for the 

 hearing of such conjugal faithfulness will be music 



