Notes 



hidden by the obscurity thus produced, it raises the filaments, moves them in 

 various directions by way of bait, and as the small fish come near they become its 

 prey. This design of the angler is not more wonderful than that of the 

 spider," &c., vol. i. 305. Aristotle testifies to the same thing ; as does St. Am- 

 brose in his Hexezmeron, when speaking of fish. B. 



Page 48. a hermit. Oppian (Jones), i. 496-520. B. 



Page 49. the Adonis. The ancients delight in the praise of this fish. It 

 was a sort of barbel. Oppian, i. 257 ; v. 397. B. 



Page 49. The adulterous sargus. This story of the Sargus (Perca Labi-ax, or 

 Basse) is often repeated by the ancients. Du Bartas evidently has Oppian in his 

 eye when writing of fishes, but mistakes his author in saying that the finny gal- 

 lants went ashore (Sur les hordes herbui). Oppian describes the amours as occur- 

 ing when 



Their sweating goats the swains compel to lave 

 Their languid bodies in the cooling wave ; 

 ***** 

 Tumultuous round the rival lovers throng, 

 Display the fin and roll the busy tongue ; 

 ***** 

 The ivilling goats receive the soft address, 

 While those repeat the bliss and unfatigued caress. 



Halieutics, hi. 395 (Jones). 



The notion was derived probably from the fish crowding round the goats to 

 feed on the vermin, &c., which fell from them. See also another method of 

 accounting for it in Laceptde, Hist, des Poissons, Tom. vii. 21. B. 



Page 50. the cantharus. Scarabseus, sea beetle. To show how closely 

 Oppian is followed, I give Jones's translation : 



The beetle no promiscuous joy allows, 

 True to his vow, and grateful to his spouse ; 

 No change he seeks, nor leaves his dusky fair, 

 Propitious Hymen joins the constant pair. 



(I. 8 4S -6;.-B. 



Page 50. pheer=ih& Chaucerian "fere," companion, mate, or, as here, wife 

 Page 50. Prest. Old orthography of the French Pret, Ready. M. 

 Page 52. the prophet David, etc. Ps. cvii. 2324. 



Page 52. -first St. Peter. Peter is the only one of the twelve who is known 

 to have angled, which was when he caught the fish with the tribute money in its 

 mouth, Matt. xvii. 27. In the poems published with the Iter Boreale, by R. Wild, 



406 



