CHAP. VII. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 207 



in them: to which -end, they will force themselves 

 through flood-gates, or over weirs, or hedges, or 

 stops in the water, even to a height beyond common 

 belief. Gesner speaks of such places as are known 

 to be above eight feet high above water. And our 

 Carnden mentions, in his Britannia, the like won- 

 der to be in Pembrokeshire, where the river Tivy 

 falls into the sea ; and that the fall is so downright, 

 and so high, that the people stand and wonder at 

 the strength, and slight, by which they see the 

 Salmon use to get out of the sea into the said 

 river ; and the manner and height of the place is 

 so notable, that it is known, far, by the name of the 

 Salmon-leap. Concerning which, take this also out 

 of Michael Drayton *, my honest old friend ; as he 

 tells it you, in his Polyolbion^. 



As when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find; 

 Which hither from the sea comes, yearly, by his kind, 

 As he tow'rds season grows ; and stems the watry tract 

 Where Tivy, falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forc'd by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As tho', within her bounds, they meant her to inclose; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive ; 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and bending like a bow 

 That's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw, 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That, bended end to end and started from man's hand, 



* An excellent poet, born in Warwickshire, 1563. Among his works, 

 which are very numerous, is the Polyolbion, a chorographical description 

 of the rivers, mountains, forests, castles, &c. in this island. Though this 

 poem has great merit, it is rendered much more valuable by the learned 

 notes of Mr. Selden. The author died in 1631 ; and lies buried among the 

 poets in Westminster abbey. 



f Dr. Warburton, in the Preface to his S 'bates p ear , speaking of this 

 poem, says it was written by one Drayton ; a mode of expression very 

 common with great men, when they mean to consign the memory 

 of others over to oblivion and contempt. Bishop Burnet, speaking of 

 the negociations previous to the peace of Utrecht, says in like manner, 

 that " one Prior was employed to finish the treaty." But both those 

 gentlemen, in this their witty perversion of an innocent monosyllable, 

 were but imitators of the Swedish ambassador, who complained to 

 Whitlocke, that a treaty had been sent to be translated by one Mr Miltcn 9 

 * blind man. Whitlocke's Mtm. 633. 



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