THE GENERAL HISTORY OF ANGLING, ETC. 



rendered. Also amongst the results of excavations at Pompeii were 

 some hooks of a rude shape, of bronze, that is, of an alloy of tin and 

 copper most probably, which, as Pliny informs us, could be drawn out 

 to the thinness of a hair. 



Of course the Romans and Greeks of a more recent time were well 

 acquainted with the art,- and we need but glance at Oppian to be sure that 

 these antiquated anglers belong in spirit to the present commonwealth of 

 fishermen. His spirited description of gorge fishing and the capture 

 of the quarry, when done into good English verse, is generally much 

 superior to any such descriptions in modern time except those of Gay. Nor 

 may we forget the story of Antony and Cleopatra and the irritating trick 

 her Majesty played her Eoman lover when they went a-fishing. Plutarch 

 gives the incident thus : ' ' It would be very tedious and trifling to recount 

 all his follies, but his (Antony's) fishing must not be forgot. He went out 

 one day to angle with Cleopatra, and being so unfortunate as to catch 

 nothing in the presence of his mistress, he was very much vexed, and 

 gave secret orders to the fishermen to dive under the water and put 

 fishes that had been fresh taken upon his hook. After he had drawn 

 up two or three, Cleopatra perceived the trick ; she, however, pretended 

 to be surprised at his good fortune and dexterity, told it to all her 

 friends, and invited them to come and see him fish the next day. 

 Accordingly, a very large company went out in the fishing vessels, and 

 as soon as Antony had let down the line she commanded one of her 

 servants to be beforehand with Antony's, and, diving into the water, to 

 fix upon his hook a salted fish, one of those which were brought from 

 the Euxine Sea." This is perhaps one of the most delicious of piscatorial 

 jokes, and Plutarch tells it well, but not so well as Shakspeare. The 

 . immortal Swan of Avon thus translates it : 



CLEO : Give me mine angle ; we'll to the river ; there, 



My music piajing far off, I will betray 



Tawny tinned fishes ; my bended hook shall pierce 



Tleir slimy jaws, and as I draw them up 



I'll thinn them everyone an Antony. 



And say, Ah ! ah ! you're caught. 

 CHAR : 'Twas merry when 



You wagered on your angler, when your diver 



Did bring a salt fish on your hook which he 



With fervency drew up. 

 CLEO: That time! O times! 



I laughed him out of patience. 



Dr. Badham also, amongst other very amusing and interesting little 

 narratives of ancient angling, transcribes a passage from .ZElian in 

 reference to the Macedonian catching a speckled fish by means of a fly. 

 This I shall refer to further when speaking of baits, but it sufficiently 

 shows that angling was practised widely amongst the ancient civilised 

 nations. 



