208 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



secrets that have never yet been written, but have 

 been since the 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 profana- 

 tion. 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 revelation ; for, doubtless, we at- 

 tained 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 physic and divinity 

 that think themselves fit to meddle with hidden 

 secrets, and so bring destruction to their follow- 

 ers. But I '11 not meddle with them any further 

 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 



