154 FISHING GOSSIP. 



Holds by a weed, or deep into the mud 

 Plunges her head, for fear against her will 

 The nets should drag her and elude her skill ; 

 Nay, not content with this, she oft will dive 

 Beneath the net, and not alone contrive 

 Means for her own escape, but pity take 

 On all her hapless brethren of the lake ; 

 For rising, with her back she lifts the snares, 

 And frees the captive, with officious cares ; 

 The little fry in safety swim away, 

 And disappoint the nets of their expected prey." 



Hidden under a mountain of antiquarian lore, in 

 one of the ten volumes* of the Censura Literaria, 

 there is an amusing song commemorating the crafty 

 character of the carp. It was written by the 

 late Chief-Justice Abbott at Denton, in Kent, the 

 seat of the late well-known literary antiquary, Sir 

 Egerton Brydges, who is celebrated in it as the 

 Knight of the Lake. Sir Egerton, though the House 

 of Lords refused his claim, always alleged himself to 

 be, per legem terrce, Baron Chandos of Ludeley, and 

 a lineal descendant of that hero of romance, Sir 

 Launcelot du Lac. The musical Lord of Penbury's 

 board, mentioned in the jeu tfesprit, cannot be now 

 identified. As the song is completely buried from 

 the notice of the general public, in the only place in 

 which it appears in print, no apology can be required 

 for introducing it here : 



* Vol. ix. p. 369. 



