THE CARP. 69 



Notwithstanding the craft of the carp, however, there is an allegory 

 in that curious old book " Dialogus Creaturam Moralizatus," which does 

 not reflect a large amount of lustre on its artfulness. The grayling and 

 carp, it appears, quarrelled at a great banquet of fish as to which should 

 take precedency. After some considerable disturbance, during which 

 physical collision seemed inevitable, a wily old trout suggested referring 

 the matter to Judge Dolphin. "He is a nice and just fish," said the 

 trout, " and will soon decide the question." The disputants accordingly 

 went to the dolphin, and, having put the case before him, demanded his 

 judgment. This he delivered as follows : " My children, you place me 

 in a very awkward position ; I am bound to do you justice, and how 

 can I, having never seen either of you before ? While you have been 

 residing in fresh water I have all my life been rolling about in the 

 restless waves of the ocean. Consequently, I cannot give a conscientious 

 opinion as to which is the best fish unless I first taste you." Saying this 

 he snapped them both up, and for the benefit of the bystanders gave 

 vent to the following sentiment : 



No one ought himself to commend 

 Above all others, lest he offend. 



The beauty of the carp has not escaped notice either 

 The yellow carp with scales bedropped with gold, 



-which appears in Pope's "Windsor Forest," is no fiction. Of course 

 such a description is not applicable to the historic hoary old carp of the 

 Pontchatrain fosse, but it eminently is so to a Windsor Park carp. 

 There is a peculiar myth also connected with this feature, which Vaniere, 

 the French Virgil (as he has been called) gives as follows (translated 

 foy Buncombe) : 



The carp which in the Italian seas was bred 

 With shining scraps of yellow gold is fed 

 Though changed his form, his avarice remains, 

 And in his breast the love of lucre reigns ; 

 For Saturn flying Ir-m victorious Jove, 

 Compelled of old in bani? hment to rove, 

 Along the Italian shore a vessel found, 

 Beyond the lake of wide Benachus bound ; 

 He for his passage at a price agreed, 

 And with large gifts of pold the master fee'd ; 

 Bat he, the master, Carpus was he named. 

 With thirst of gain and love of gold inflamed, 

 Prepared in chains the passenger to bind, 

 But to the God his face betrayed his mind, 

 And from the vessel, in revenge, he threw 

 Into the waves the pilot and bis crew. 

 Then into fish the traitors he transformed ; 

 The traitors still, with love of lucre warmed, 

 The failing ships for golden fragments trace. 

 And prove themselves derived from human race. 



But this is an incipient libel en "Venus' own fish," and, as such, I 

 reject it with scorn. 



