A CONFERENCE BETWIXT 



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 shewn the Norway and Polonian Prince. 



These seem to be wonders, but have had so many con- 

 firmations 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, inclinations 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 

 Mont. Essays,' m a g am a * her pleasure, according as she sees some 

 and other affin i 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 a dead fish's shell, and like a hermit dwells there 

 alone, studying the wind and weather, and so turns her shell, 

 that she makes it defend her from the injuries that they would 

 bring upon her. 



There is also a fish called, by uSilian, in his 9th Book of 

 Living Creatures, Ch. 16, the Adonis or Darling of the Sea ; 

 so called, because it is a loving and innocent fish, a fish that 

 hurts nothing that hath life, and is at peace with all the 

 numerous inhabitants of that vast watery element ; and trulr 

 I think most Anglers are so disposed to most of mankind. 



And there are also lustful and chaste fishes, of which I shall 

 give you examples. 



And first, what Du Bartas says of a fish called the Sargus : 

 which because none can express it better than he does, I shall 

 20 



