X PREFACE. 



are certain lessons of philosophy, amid much of 

 exaggeration and paradox indeed, that we offer no 

 apology for introducing it to the curious among 

 our readers. The account is taken from the second 

 volume of Addison's " Travels." That such a 

 writer allowed it a place in his works, entitles this 

 literary curiosity to a passing notice. 



St. Anthony is also very famous for his sermons ; the 

 most remarkable of which is that which he preached to 

 a company of fishes. As the audience and the sermon 

 are both extraordinary, I shall set down the account at 

 length. When the heretics would not regard his preach- 

 ing, he betook himself to the sea-shore, where the 

 river Marechia disembogues itself into the Adriatic. 

 He called the fishes together in the name of God, that 

 they might hear his Holy Word. The fish came 

 swimming towards him in such vast shoals, both from 

 the sea and from the river, that the surface of the water 

 was quite covered with their multitudes. They quickly 

 ranged themselves, according to their several species, 

 into a very beautiful congregation, and like so many 

 rational creatures presented themselves before him to 

 hear the Word of God. St. Anthony was so struck 

 with the miraculous obedience and submission of these 

 poor animals, that he found a secret sweetness distilling 

 upon his soul, and at last addressed himself to them in 

 the following words : 



