The Compleat ^Angler 



Pliny, Ausonius, Aristotle, and others, may be demonstrated. But 

 I will sweeten this discourse also out of a contemplation in divine 

 Du Bartas (in the fifth day), who says : 



God quickened in the sea, and in the rivers, 



So many fishes of so many features, 



That in the waters we may see all creatures, 



Even all that on earth are to be found, 



As if the world were in deep waters drowned. 



For seas (as well as skies} have sun, moon, stars : 



(As well as air] swallows, rooks and stares: 



(As well as earth] vines, roses, nettles, melons, 



Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 



Of other plants, more rare, more strange than these, 



As very fishes, living in the seas ; 



As also rams, calves, horses, hares, and hogs, 



Wolves, urchins, lions, elephants, and dogs ; 



Yea, men and maids ; and, which I most admire, 



The mitred bishop and the cowled friar ; 



Of which, examples, but a few years since, 



Were shown the Norway and Polonian Prince. 



These seem to be wonders, but have had so many confirmations 

 from men of learning and credit, that you need not doubt them ; 

 nor are the number, nor the various shapes of fishes, more strange 

 or more fit for contemplation than their different natures, inclina- 

 tions, and actions ; concerning which I shall beg your patient ear 

 a little longer. 



The cuttle-fish will cast a long gut out of her throat, which (like 

 as an angler doth his line) she sendeth forth and pulleth in again at 

 her pleasure, according as she sees some little fish come near to her ; 

 and the cuttle-fish (being then hid in the gravel) lets the smaller 

 fish nibble and bite the end of it, at which time she by little and 

 little draws the smaller fish so near to her that she may leap upon 

 her, and then catches and devours her : and for this reason some 

 have called this fish the sea-angler. 



And there is a fish called a hermit, that at a certain age gets into 



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