The Compleat ^Angler 



Christians ; secrets that have never yet been written, but have been 

 since the days of their Solomon (who knew the nature of all things, 

 even from the cedar to the shrub) delivered by tradition, from the 

 father to the son, and so from generation to generation, without 

 writing, or (unless it were casually) without the least communicating 

 them to any other nation or tribe ; for to do that they account a 

 profanation. And yet it is thought that they, or some spirit worse 

 than they, first told us that lice swallowed alive were a certain cure 

 for the yellow-jaundice. This, and many other medicines, were 

 discovered by them, or by revelation; for, doubtless, we attained 

 them not by study. 



Well, this fish, besides his eating, is very useful both dead and 

 alive for the good of mankind. But I will meddle no more with 

 that ; my honest humble art teaches no such boldness ; there are 

 too many foolish meddlers in physic and divinity, that think them- 

 selves fit to meddle with hidden secrets, and so bring destruction to 

 their followers. But I'll not meddle with them any further than to 

 wish them wiser; and shall tell you next (for I hope I may be so 

 bold) that the tench is the physician of fishes, for the pike especially ; 

 and that the pike, being either sick or hurt, is cured by the touch of 

 the TENCH. And it is observed that the tyrant pike will not be a 

 wolf to his physician, but forbears to devour him though he be never 

 so hungry. 



This fish, that carries a natural balsam in him to cure himself and 

 others, loves yet to feed in very foul water, and amongst weeds. 

 And yet I am sure he eats pleasantly, and doubtless you will think 

 so too, if you taste him. And I shall therefore proceed to give you 

 some few, and but a few, directions how to catch this Tench, of 

 which I have given you these observations. 



He will bite a paste made of brown bread and honey, or at a 

 marsh-worm, or a lob-worm ; he inclines very much to any paste 

 with which tar is mixed ; and he will bite also at a smaller worm, 

 with his head nipped off, and a cod-worm put on the hook before 

 that worm; and I doubt not but that he will also in the three hot 

 months (for in the nine colder he stirs not much) bite at a flag-worm, 

 or at a green gentle ; but I can positively say no more of the tench, 



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