52 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



ence to dibbing with the natural fly, in the following 

 quotation, is his nearest approach thereto : 



FOR THE CHUB AND TROUT. 



See where another hides himselfe as slye, 



As did Acteon, or the fearfull Deere ; 



Behinde a withy, and with watchfull eye 



Attends the bit within the water cleere, 



And on the top thereof doth move his flye, 



With skilful hand, as if he living were. 



Loe how the Chub, the Roche, the Dace and Trout 

 To catch thereat doe gaze and swimme about. 



His Rod, or Cane, made darke for being scene. 

 The lesse to feare the warie Fish withall : 

 His Line well twisted is, and wrought so cleane 

 That being strong, yet doth it shew but small, 

 His Hooke not great, nor little, but betweene, 

 That light upon the watry brimme may fall, 



The Line in length scant halfe the Rod exceedes, 

 And neither Cork, nor Leade thereon it needes. 



But by the way it shall not be amisse, 

 To understand that in the waters gray, 

 Of floating Fish, two sundry kindes there is, 

 The one that lives by raven and by pray, 

 And of the weaker sort, now that, now this, 

 He bites, and spoyles, and kills, and beares away, 

 And in his greedy gullet doth devoure, 

 As Scillas gulfe, a ship within his powre. 



And these have wider mouths to catch and take 

 Their flying pray, whom swiftly they pursew, 

 And rows of teeth like to a saw or rake, 

 Wherewith the gotten game they bite and chew. 

 And greater speede within the waters make, 

 To set upon the other simple crew, 



And as the grayhound steales upon the hare, 

 So doe they use to rush on them unware. 



