The Compleat ^Angler 



crave pardon of one that I laughed at, for affirming that he knew 

 carps come to a certain place in a pond, to be fed, at the ringing of 

 a bell, or the beating of a drum ; and however, it shall be a rule for 

 me to make as little noise as I can when I am fishing, until Sir 

 Francis Bacon be confuted, which I shall give any man leave to do. 



And, lest you may think him singular in his opinion, I will tell 

 you, this seems to be believed by our learned Dr. Hakewill, who (in 

 his Apology of God's Power and Providence^ fol. 360) quotes Pliny 

 to report that one of the emperors had particular fish-ponds, and in 

 them several fish that appeared and came when they were called by 

 their particular names ; and St. James tells us (chap. 3. 7) that all 

 things in the sea have been tamed by mankind. And Pliny tells us 

 (lib. 9. 35) that Antonia, the wife of Darsus, had a lamprey, at 

 whose gills she hung jewels or ear-rings ; and that others have been 

 so tender-hearted as to shed tears at the death of fishes which they 

 have kept and loved. And these observations, which will to most 

 hearers seem wonderful, seem to have a further confirmation from 

 Martial (lib. 4, Epigr. 30), who writes thus : 



PISC4TOR, FUGE; NE NOCENS, ETC. 



jfngler ! wouldst thou be guiltless ? then forbear ; 

 For these are sacred fishes that swim here^ 

 Who know their sovereign^ and will lick his hand ; 

 Than which nonets greater in the world's command: 

 Nay more, they've names, and, when they called are, 

 Do to their several owners' call repair. 



All the further use that I shall make of this shall be, to advise anglers 

 to be patient and forbear swearing, lest they be heard, and catch no 

 fish. 



And so I shall proceed next to tell you, it is certain, that certain 

 fields near Leominster, a town in Herefordshire, are observed to 

 make the sheep that graze upon them more fat than the next, and 

 also to bear finer wool ; that is to say that that year in which they 

 feed in such a particular pasture, they shall yield finer wool than they 

 did that year before they came to feed in it, and coarser again if they 



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