HARRY OTTER — PASTORAL. 87 



which I do not covet myself, or recommend others to 

 seek. In such case, perhaps, the heroes of the harpoon 

 might be caught at their descent by some ravenous 

 shark; and unless people have a curiosity about the 

 construction of that animal's intestines for the sake of 

 scientific purposes, a visit to his interior would be 

 useless, and I think imprudent. Besides, whale fishery 

 is a sort of unsavory butchery, which does not suit all 

 tastes. We will take leave, therefore, to discard it at 

 once. 



The truth is, that I like no sea fishing whatever, 

 being of opinion that it requires little skill ; neither do 

 I enjoy sailing in the salt element, for very particular 

 reasons relating to health. But my mind is full of 

 solemn thoughts as I stand on the sounding shore, and 

 see the gallant vessel pass away into the great desert 

 of waters, till her misty hull rests lonely in the horizon. 

 Then, as shades of night set in, and as she fades in the 

 general gloom, I meditate on the perils of storm and 

 battle, and all the adventurous scenes her crew may 

 encounter, for good or for evil, — far, far away from the 

 land of their affections. 



" Nos patriam fugimus, nos dulcia linquimus arva : 

 Nos patriam fugimus." 



No ; the wild main I trust not. Rather let me wander 

 beside the banks of the tranquil streams of the warm 

 South, " in yellow meads of asphodel," when the young 

 spring comes forth, and all nature is glad; or if a 

 wilder mood comes over me, let me clamber among the 

 steeps of the North, beneath the shaggy mountains, where 



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